Inlander 04/28/2022 by The Inlander

Bloomsday APRIL 28-MAY 4, 2022 | “WE GET THE JOB DONE”

is back!

PAGE 18

AFTER A YEAR’S DEL AY, HA MILTON AR R IV ES IN SPOK A NE

May 2 - May 15

Together we can make a difference.

Washington Trust Bank is proud to sponsor the KREM Cares Diaper Drive, along with Rosauers Supermarkets, in an effort to support Vanessa Behan and the services they provide in our community. How can you help?

• Make a monetary donation at Washington Trust branch locations in Spokane and North Idaho. • Buy a $10 Diaper Drive bag at any Rosauers store or while shopping online. • Learn more and donate at KREM.com.

Each $10 donation helps provide a one-week supply of diapers and wipes to a family in need.

INSIDE VOL. 29, NO. 29 | COVER DESIGN: ALI BLACKWOOD

COMMENT NEWS CULTURE COVER STORY

5 8 12 18

FOOD SCREEN MUSIC EVENTS

30 32 34 38

40 I SAW YOU 42 GREEN ZONE BULLETIN BOARD 46

COWBOY!

Pepperoni, Sausage, Mushrooms, Black Olives, Herb & Cheese Blend, Mozzarella, Red Sauce on Original Crust

EDITOR’S NOTE

very few years it seems like a Broadway musical strikes a chord that takes it well beyond the realm of the Great White Way. With HAMILTON, Lin-Manuel Miranda struck that chord with a vengeance. His inspired take on the life of one of America’s Founding Fathers, told through singing and rapping and delivered by non-White actors, works as an educational vehicle, a historical reckoning and simply kick-ass entertainment. And like the best works of art, it’s worth experiencing more than once. Good thing Hamilton is bringing no less than two dozen performances for the touring show’s first-ever stop in Spokane. In this week’s cover section (page 18), E.J. Iannelli introduces the performers, traces the show’s winding pandemic path to Spokane, and much more. Also this week, reporter Samantha Wohlfeil continues our housing series “Out of Reach” with a story about tenants earning the right to fight for their rights with legal counsel at their side in hopes of avoiding an eviction (page 8), we get you revved up for Bloomsday Sunday with a chat with race director Jon Neill (page 12), and Carrie Scozzaro introduces a new dining spot in downtown Spokane (page 30). — DAN NAILEN, editor

FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS PAGE 8

DOWNTOWN DINING PAGE 30

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INLANDER

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1227 WEST SUMMIT PARKWAY, SPOKANE, WA 99201 PHONE: 509-325-0634 | EMAIL: INFO@INLANDER.COM THE INLANDER is a locally owned, independent newspaper founded on Oct. 20, 1993. Please recycle THE INLANDER after you’re done with it. One copy free per person per week; extra copies are $1 each (call x226). For ADVERTISING information, email advertising@inlander.com. To have a SUBSCRIPTION mailed to you, call x210 ($50 per year). To find one of our more than 1,000 NEWSRACKS where you can pick up a paper free every Thursday, call x226 or email frankd@ inlander.com. THE INLANDER is a member of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and is published at least twice per month. All contents of this newspaper are protected by United States copyright law. © 2022, Inland Publications, Inc.

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 3

SPOKANE VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA

BOB DYLAN ROUGH AND ROWDY WAYS Saturday, May 28 First Interstate Center for the Arts

4 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK THE MIXTAPE TOUR 2022 Monday, June 6 Spokane Arena

ZZ TOP RAW WHISKEY TOUR Thursday, June 9 First Interstate Center for the Arts

COMMENT STAFF DIRECTORY PHONE: 509-325-0634 Ted S. McGregor Jr. (tedm@inlander.com) PUBLISHER

Jer McGregor (x224) GENERAL MANAGER

EDITORIAL Dan Nailen (x239) EDITOR

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ANNUAL SPOKANE COMMUNITY EVENT? ALECZONDRA SELZLER

Hoopfest, I think, mostly because we haven’t had it in a few years, and I think it’s just a good way to bring together so many different types of people, and they come from all over, too. And it’s a little more lively and, in my experience with it, there’s more music, more culture, and it’s just really fun.

Samantha Wohlfeil (x234) BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Daniel Walters (x263) SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Seth Sommerfeld (x250) MUSIC EDITOR

Carrie Scozzaro (x232) STAFF WRITER

Chris Frisella COPY CHIEF

Young Kwak, Erick Doxey PHOTOGRAPHERS

Madison Pearson EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

TY BARNES

My favorite annual event is Bloomsday ’cause I love running and I love our running community in Spokane. Do you have a favorite Bloomsday memory? Yeah, nothing specific, it’s just always a good time, especially running through the neighborhoods and at the end having people cheering along on Broadway is nice.

Alyssa Hughes, Summer Sandstrom INTERNS

Josh Bell, Bill Bryant, E.J. Iannelli, Will Maupin, Quinn Welsch CONTRIBUTORS

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JERRY HOLDREN

I really enjoy the Inlander Music Fest [Volume] downtown, before the pandemic of course, but that was a lot of fun. Why is that your favorite? Just the variety of different bands, local artists and stuff, and you got to see things you wouldn’t normally get to see, and other aspects of venues.

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PRODUCTION

NICOLAS HINMAN

I’m always a fan of Hoopfest; I don’t play in it, but I have friends [who] have teams, and it’s fun just cheering them on and, yeah, other than that, Pig Out in the Park. Not necessarily for the food but for the bands and the music and all that.

RARE COIN CO.

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OPERATIONS Dee Ann Cook (x211) BUSINESS MANAGER

ALICYN ELDER

My favorite event is [Terrain’s] Bazaar, and actually, it can be the Christmas Bazaar or the one in the summer. I just love to see all of the different local artists and what they have to bring to the market.

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Weaning ourselves off fossil fuels will take more wind, solar and perhaps nuclear power — a lot of it in Eastern Washington.

Lost in Transmission Further electrifying Washington state is a shared goal, but Gov. Inslee’s plan to get us there is short-circuiting out BY BILL BRYANT

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hen I heard that Gov. Jay Inslee had vetoed legislation requiring that new cars sold after 2030 had to be electric, I thought perhaps he had hit a pause button until we figured out what going “all electric” involved, perhaps until after he had built more public support. But no. That’s not why he vetoed it. That and two other related vetoes betray a reckless drive to electrify transportation even if we don’t have the information and public buy-in we need. Transportation is Washington’s largest contributor of CO2 emissions, so focusing our emission reductions there makes sense. But as we move forward, we need to know a few things, like how we’ll pay for roads, bridges and salmon culverts, among other things, with falling gas tax revenue. Or how we’ll generate a reliable supply of electricity to meet the increased demand from electrifying Washington’s transportation, residential and commercial sectors. The 2022 Legislature tried asking both questions. Inslee’s vetoes shut them down. He explained that he vetoed the electric car 2030 language because the Legislature had required that we figure out how we’ll pay for roads without a gas tax. The governor wanted to move forward without answering that question. Rather than taking the opportunity to work with the Legislature to find an answer, he vetoed the bill.

That’s reckless.

nslee’s recklessness was compounded by also vetoing legislation that would have identified whether, as we put more demand on our electrical supply, there’s a chance of rolling brownouts. It would make sense to know that before charging forward. He claimed government agencies were already providing that information, and he is sort of right. Agency models suggest that as long as we continue relying on a mix of hydro, natural gas, nuclear and coal-generated electricity, and we manage peak electricity demand and increase conservation efforts, we can meet rising electrical demand. However, with uncertain water tables and efforts to remove dams, we cannot expect rising demand to be met by expanding renewable hydro, which currently provides 55 percent of our electricity. The next largest provider is natural gas (about 13 percent), and some scenarios for maintaining a reliable electrical supply depend upon natural gas generation filling the void from reduced coal generation (currently 10 percent). But the governor has already declared war on expanded use of natural gas. So if we don’t expand

natural gas generated electricity, we continue reducing coal, and we don’t expand hydro, can increased efficiencies and expanded wind (currently 5.3 percent) and nuclear (4.6 percent) prevent rising electric bills and brownouts? That’s what state Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, thought the Legislature should look into. The Legislature agreed, passing the bill she and others put forward unanimously out of the House 93-0, then unanimously out of the Senate 49-0. The governor vetoed it. He shouldn’t have. Mosbrucker presented the governor with an opportunity to engage with the Legislature and together build support for a more alternative-based power plan. Instead, he claimed he already had the information he needed and batted them aside. But that doesn’t mean their concerns go away, and there are real concerns that need to be addressed if we’re going to electrify transportation in the 2030s. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council cautions, “The existing transmission infrastructure may not be sufficient to move the thousands of megawatts of new renewable energy from the remote locations where it will be generated to the places where it will be consumed.” So, to generate more electricity from wind, for example, we’ll need to build more transmission lines. It can take up to 12 years to build a transmission line. If we want to electrify transportation in the 2030s and have the electricity we’ll need to meet growing demand, the clock’s ticking. To satisfy increasing electricity demand, not only will we need to build more transmission lines, but more windmills, solar panels and other non-hydro renewable electrical facilities. Most of those will be in Eastern Washington. The effect that could have on Eastern Washington prompted Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, to amend a bill so that siting new facilities required consultation with rural, farm and forestry communities. Democrats in the Legislature agreed. The governor vetoed it. He shouldn’t have. We will not electrify our transportation, residential and commercial sectors by forcing policies and facilities down people’s throats. Instead, right now, the governor should be building public support for electrification initiatives by listening and engaging people, not dissing them. As Dye said, “It is critical for our rural communities and local landowners, especially those in Eastern Washington, to see the ‘big picture’ of what 30 years of siting utility-scale wind and solar would do to Washington’s rural landscape.” I’d add, we’ll only have a sustainable electrification plan and avoid years of courtroom fights if the plan is supported by Eastern Washington communities. So let’s engage them early in the process.

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ctively engaging the public now is needed not only for increasing wind, but also for increasing the urban siting of modular nuclear facilities. Modular nuclear generators can be located near cities where the demand is, reducing the need for more transmission lines. But locating modular nuclear facilities near our cities will also require a supportive public and, like transmission lines, building these modular facilities will take years, so gubernatorial leadership is needed now. Leaders don’t sanctimoniously decide what is best for people, then impose their will. Leaders educate, persuade and motivate often indifferent and skeptical citizens until those citizens are so involved they believe the initiative is their own. If we are going to electrify Washington state’s transportation, residential and commercial sectors, the changes cannot be dictated, but must be adopted from the community level up. Contrary to what Inslee wants, his vetoes are denying us the information and undermining the very consensus we’ll need to get where he wants to go. n

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 7

FROM LEFT: Northwest Justice Project attorneys Andrew Newman, Alicia Kingston and Macy Disney ERICK DOXEY PHOTOS

LAWYERING UP HOUSING

Washington is the first state offering lawyers to tenants in hopes of better outcomes for all

n 80-year-old Spokane woman with a degenerative back condition is told to clean up her cluttered apartment, where movers stacked boxes far taller than her 4-foot-6-inch frame and never helped to unpack them. Friends who helped with previous moves have since passed away. She is evicted in early April with plans to stay with friends on alternating days. A single mom with three kids is faced with taking an eviction notice to a hearing where her attorney might prevail, or settling with the landlord and moving out. She goes with the less risky option and gets out of the unit. An elderly man learns that the “nuisance” his landlords claim he’s causing doesn’t meet the legal definition, so he could have a strong case to make in court. But if it means testifying and getting grilled with questions from his landlord’s attorney, he’s not interested. “I’m not going to force my client to endure additional trauma and go through that process,” explains Alicia Kingston, one of the attorneys working under the new Eviction Prevention Unit at the Northwest Justice Project. “Inherently, this system is not set up in a way that is equal.” Previously, fewer than 8 percent of tenants in Washington had legal representation at any point in the eviction process, according to the University of Washington Evictions Project. Attorneys say the vast majority of landlords, meanwhile, had a lawyer arguing on their behalf in court. So a year ago this month, lawmakers in Washington state passed a new law ensuring that tenants facing eviction will get an attorney if they can’t afford one. (Most can’t.) While many are familiar with the right to legal

8 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

BY SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL

DIFFICULT SITUATION counsel offered to those who go through the criminal While many evictions are focused on unpaid rent, justice system, this is the first time superior courts around landlords can also claim a tenant is creating a nuisance or the state have been required to appoint attorneys in civil breaking a section of their lease. They may claim a tenant eviction cases. is piling up garbage too high, or smoking in their unit, or “Our hope is… that this is a good way to keep people participating in an illegal activity and therefore violating housed, and a cost-effective way to keep communities in their lease. place, especially given the housing markets we’re seeing In 80-year-old Mariam’s case (she requested the in places like Spokane, where the vacancy rate is so Inlander only use her first name), her possessions were close to zero,” says Philippe Knab, the eviction defense the focus. Specifically, the property program manager for the state’s Office of Civil management company took pictures Legal Aid, which ensures legal representation HELP inside her unit multiple times showfor people around the state. AVA I L A B L E ing boxes stacked high and claiming Northwest Justice Project and other law Find more information at other nuisance issues such as pests. offices around the state are now offering legal nwjustice.org/eviction-help Mariam says mice were also an issue counsel to indigent tenants with the goal of for neighbors in the building, and somewhat correcting the power imbalance that she eliminated the ones in her unit with the use of traps has long existed under Washington’s court system. they shared. Even if attorneys aren’t able to completely prevent As for the clutter, she felt out of control of the situathe need for a tenant to move out, in the several months tion. that the program has been operational, many have been At the age of 63, Mariam had been hit by a drunk able to negotiate settlements with landlords that result in driver, and it took years for her feet and legs to heal. an outcome both can agree upon. One example might be Though she’d worked all her life until that point, she agreeing to have the tenant move out by a certain date was also dealing with a degenerative back condition that in exchange for not having an official eviction on their shrank her over time from 5 feet, 2 inches to 4 feet, 6 record, which would make it far harder to find a new inches, and ultimately caused her to stop working. place to live. Mariam moved into this new apartment in 2020 after “I really want them to know that it’s definitely worth her previous landlord took back the home where she’d having an attorney to represent you, to assist you if you lived for six years. She only had three steps to her old qualify,” says attorney Edith Martinez, who is assigned door, but now she was coping with two dozen steps to get tenant cases via the Spokane County Bar Association. home. “There is hope out there, and I don’t know that enough tenants see that light at the end of the tunnel.” ...continued on page 10

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NEWS | HOUSING “LAWYERING UP,” CONTINUED... When movers helped her get into this place, she says they stacked the boxes taller than her slight frame, and she couldn’t get them down for fear they’d fall and hurt her. She doesn’t have a strong local support system. “What happened to me could happen to anybody,” she says. “Some people have more people helping them.” Ultimately, her new property managers took photos of the belongings cluttering her unit and built a case to evict her, which moved forward this March. “They showed [the photos] at the court hearing I had. That’s kind of embarrassing, but when I can’t lift stuff and I’m frustrated, I’m sorry but I just…” she says, trailing off with a deep sigh. “I feel like, you know, I’m a total failure, in a way, ’cause I can’t really do anything. It’s hard for me to even get groceries up to my apartment.” Under Washington’s new right to counsel, she was assigned attorney Chris Brunetti, who has worked on her case and is the assistant managing attorney of Northwest Justice Project’s unit working these cases. Although Brunetti filed a motion for reconsideration in the case, the court approved sending the sheriff’s office to boot Mariam from her unit earlier this month while the motion was still pending. She was evicted, and the landlord is required to store her belongings. One of the difficult realities that remains in eviction cases is that while landlords may build up their case and collect evidence over weeks or months, tenants and now their lawyers often only have a short time to get their facts together. “You typically only have a week, maybe two weeks at most from the time you get the case to meet your client and to prepare for a hearing where the court can terminate your client’s tenancy,” Brunetti says. “Tenants like [Mariam] still face quite an uphill battle in court.” While Washington has some of the most liberal tenant protec-

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tions in the country, landlords will always have the upper hand because of the stakes, says Kingston, an attorney in the Spokane Eviction Prevention Unit. One is fighting for their property back, while the other could lose the place they live. “Our clients are facing losing their homes and their security,” Kingston says. “And the decision that they have to make, and the mental state that they’re in, and the trauma that they’re going through and that they’re experiencing is going to always put them in a disadvantaged position.”

LOCAL TEAM

Kingston has worked on these cases alongside attorneys Macy Disney and Andrew Newman in the Spokane Northwest Justice Project office since last fall. They, of course, work to prevent evictions, as does Martinez. But much of their work is also ensuring that landlords follow the processes spelled out in law, including providing the proper amount of notice and evidence where that’s necessary. New and old attorneys alike are still learning the new laws and figuring out how they will be tested in court. Attorneys may need to ask clients whether they want to pitch the landlord a settlement and plan to move out within a month or so — if they can even find a place in the current competitive rental market — or if they want to risk going to a hearing where their attorney can try a legal argument that could end in them being allowed to stay or result in their imminent eviction, Newman says. “You’re talking to the clients about this very real decision,” Newman says. “Do you want to risk potentially being evicted in a week-and-a-half, or is a month-and-a-half enough time to be able to find a place?” The attorneys have also started working more closely with community resources in an attempt to help their tenants land in a stable situation, whether they have a month to plan or not.

LAST DAY TO REGISTER APRIL 30

SUNDAY, MAY 1 BLOOMSDAYRUN.ORG 10 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

“Out of Reach” is the Inlander’s new occasional series investigating why finding a home, or even an affordable rental, has increasingly become out of reach in the Inland Northwest — and what we can do about it. Follow the series at inlander.com/housing.

While settlements may be a more helpful choice for some tenants, some others want their voice heard in court, even if the decision won’t go their way, the attorneys say. Disney says she represented a three-generation family that had a settlement ready to be signed, but at the last moment, the three women decided to go forward with the court process. “They understood that they were going to be evicted; they understood it wasn’t going to go in their favor,” Disney says. “They’d had so much trauma happen to their family in the past year, they just wanted a voice.” So they got to spend an entire day in court talking about their situation and being heard. Kingston says some good outcomes may be about giving clients what they need in that moment, even if it’s just feeling empowered to share their side of things.

RESULTS

The state plans to examine just how the right to counsel impacts tenants, landlords, the court system and communities in a quantitative way. Knab, who is helping oversee the assignment of more than 70 attorneys statewide for these cases through the Office of Civil Legal Aid, says he and UW researchers will be analyzing the data submitted on a quarterly basis by each jurisdiction. Ideally, the right to counsel will not only prove helpful for tenants, but it may also help communities remain whole and save money by preventing people from entering homelessness, he says. “We’re hoping to use the data we’re getting in real time to try to make sure that we’re looking at trends,” and adjusting the program as needed, Knab says. “Our hope is people are going to see that this has made a positive effect and a positive change for people, and for communities.” n samanthaw@inlander.com

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 11

It’s been a while since Spokane has seen this scene in person.

YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

IN FULL BLOOM BLOOMSDAY

Race day is back: Bloomsday director says this year’s race symbolizes Spokane’s re-emergence BY QUINN WELSCH

emember Bloomsday? The running event that took over downtown Spokane each first Sunday in May for 40-plus years? Word is that it’ll be back in person this Sunday, May 1. For real this time. Fingers crossed. Knock on wood. Inshallah. For the last two years, Bloomies have participated in a virtual run, patiently waiting for COVID restrictions to ease so they could participate in the regularly scheduled in-person festivities that take over Spokane’s downtown core. With a readily available vaccine and COVID reportedly declining across the state and country, 2022 marks the return of the event after a two-year hiatus. “Excited,” “eager,” “enthusiastic.” Those are the words that Bloomsday Race Director Jon Neill uses to describe the feelings of race day organizers and volunteers. “I have been looking forward to this day for three years now,” says Neill, who took over as director of

12 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

Bloomsday after founder Don Kardong passed the mantle in 2019. After decades of running successful Bloomsdays, the 2020 race was prohibited during Washington state’s restrictions on public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s race symbolizes an end to that prohibition, Neill says. “Bloomsday is about blooming and emergence from winter. Here we are, getting ready to take a giant step forward from the pandemic and the public health situation we found ourselves in,” Neill says. “I think Bloomsday, more than ever, will signify that emergence. We’re excited to be one of the first big events in the city and state — as well as to do it safely.”

n case you’ve forgotten, Bloomsday 2020 was originally postponed until September that year due to the coronavirus shutdowns. As COVID persisted, it was clear to race organizers that the event wouldn’t be able

to continue at all in 2020. What was supposed to be a two-week quarantine turned into an indefinite period of COVID-related restrictions, and Bloomsday became an entirely virtual race as a result. There was hope in 2021 — more than a year after the first shutdowns — that the in-person race would resume as usual. But COVID persisted, and most in-person events remained prohibited. Bloomsday went virtual for the second straight year. Despite the restrictions over the past two years, Neill was heartened by the enthusiasm from runners who participated virtually. Bloomsday garnered about 26,000 runners in 2020 and about 23,000 in 2021. Even though this year’s race will take place in person, Bloomsday has kept the virtual race open to runners all over the world. Runners can sign up for the virtual run until race day. About 4,000 had signed up for the virtual race by midApril, Neill says.

Bloomsday perennial Bill Peters, 77, says he’s glad that the race is continuing virtually this year. He and his wife are remaining cautious and limiting their public interactions due to COVID concerns for his grandson, who is still ineligible for a vaccine, he says. “It’s made it possible for me to continue because I would not have been able to run in the crowd,” Peters says. “I would not have been able to do it because of family responsibilities. It’s a really wonderful thing they’ve done.” Perennials are those proud few who have finished every race since the first one in 1977. Mary Fagan, 69, another perennial, describes this year’s event as a celebration of health as well as the coming of spring. She’ll be walking the course with the rest of the crowd this year. “It tends to be such a big race, and I rarely see anyone I know, so it’s like making new friends every year,” she says. “I find great joy in the energy of Bloomsday and the people.” Neill says he wants this year’s race to honor the runners and walkers who stuck with Bloomsday in 2020 and 2021. And he credits the enthusiasm of Bloomsday’s brigade of more than 4,000 volunteers — many of them involved for decades — in helping bring the in-person race back to life in 2022.

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Race Director Jon Neill is happy for a return to almost normal. “We were so fortunate as organizers and race officials,” Neill says of the past two years, “and we look at this year’s event as rewarding those that supported us in the two virtual years. Whether it’s 10,000 people or 30,000 or 40,000, our goal is to put on the best road race the world knows.” After the Spokane area saw a population boom during the pandemic, Neill is also excited about Bloomsday becoming part of many newcomers’ lives in their adopted hometown. “Even though it seems like a short time ago that we ran in 2019, we do have this influx of new residents to Spokane,” he says. “Some people think it’s just a race and there’s a start line and finish line, but it’s so much more. It’s a mascot vulture at the top of Doomsday [Hill], and 20-plus bands that line the course, and it’s Spokane’s reunion, and post-race parties, and the way that it just takes over our town like a major road race international.” n To register for the in-person or virtual race, or catch up with all things Bloomsday 2022, visit bloomsdayrun.org. The trade show is at the Spokane Convention Center Fri, April 29, 11:30 am-8 pm, and Sat, April 30, 9 am-6:30 pm. The race starts at 9 am on Sunday, May 1. The involved streets reopen at 1:30 pm, and the post-race party takes place at 2 pm on Main and Stevens in downtown Spokane.

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 13

CULTURE | BOOKS

Visit our newly redesigned showroom and gallery with over 1,000 pieces available today.

1524 NORTHWEST BLVD. COEUR D’ALENE 208 676-1645 yourgoldsmith@gmail.com

Friday, May 6th • 6pm to 10pm Street Dance with Justin James Live! Intermission with LITEFEET Line Dancing

Saturday, May 7th • 10am to 3pm Good Times and Bliss... Art Alley

Corn Hole Tournament

Kid Zone

Live Music & Entertainment

Petting Zoo

Food, Vendors & Shopping

Historic Downtown Cheney www.cheneymayfest.org 14 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

Blood on the Run Bloomsday plays a major role in Spokane author Chris Bieker’s new murder mystery BY DAN NAILEN

t had been a few years since Rex Begonia ran Bloomsday, but the morning ritual was familiar, one that no doubt many Bloomies can relate to. He carbo-loaded on spaghetti the night before. He skipped his morning coffee in hopes of fighting off dehydration, and trips to the PortO-Potties along the race route. He cranked up the Rocky theme to get amped before leaving the house, pinning on his race number before heading to downtown Spokane to meet up with his corporate cup teammates. Everything was normal — until the dead body was found at the start of Doomsday Hill, forcing the best detective in Spokane out of the race and into a murder case that stretches from Browne’s Addition to the South Hill, Hillyard to Airway Heights, in a new book by local author Chris Bieker. Blood on Bloomsday is a work of fiction — you’d probably remember if a grisly murder was discovered in the middle of Spokane’s annual road race extravaganza — and it’s Beiker’s second Spokane-set mystery, arriving two years after Murder at Manito. She’ll celebrate the release Saturday, April 30 (the night before Bloomsday 2022) at Auntie’s at 7 pm. Like its predecessor, Blood on Bloomsday revolves around the adventures of Rex Begonia as he solves a case with the help of — and occasionally at odds with — characters like Police Chief Barney Blueblood, Mayor Sammy Prosciutto, fellow cops Ivy Lizei and Phil O’Dendren, an

outfitter named Boone Crockett, and others. Begonia is a memorable protagonist, a plant-loving cop who loves nothing better when he’s off-duty than a fancy coffee drink at his neighborhood cafe — except for maybe a certain dreamy local newscaster who makes him feel like a smitten teen again. Bieker decided to write another Rex Begonia mystery after getting a lot of positive feedback on her first self-published mystery, one inspired by long walks in a favorite Spokane park. “I really didn’t start out to be a writer,” explains Bieker, 59, who’s lived in Spokane 35 years and spent most of her professional life working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “It was during weekly walks to Manito Park with a friend, and we were in the conservatory, and I was looking at the little labels on the plants. And it just struck me that Rex Begonia would be a good name for a detective. “So my friend and I would make up stories about Rex. Maybe there would be a murder right there in the conservatory! And who would get killed? It would have to be the head gardener at Manito. From there, it was just a story that kind of asked to be written. The characters just wanted to come to life on the page.”

ike many writers, Bieker attributes her interest in crafting stories to a childhood spent as an avid reader growing up in Dillingham, Alaska, on Bristol Bay, a place she describes as “the premier fishing area in Alaska.”

Live Lounge Entertainment Live Music is back at Coeur d’Alene Casino! Every weekend, you’ll find live music at the Nighthawk Lounge with local bands playing past midnight. For a more relaxed vibe earlier in the evening, choose the option of live acoustic music in the Chinook Lounge.

Rock Candy Chris Bieker sets her mysteries like Blood on Bloomsday in Spokane.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 TH & SATURDAY, APRIL 30 TH

ALYSSA HUGHES PHOTO

It was a town that didn’t get its first paved road until she was in college. “From the time I was little, I can remember the bookmobile coming around and that being the highlight of my week,” Bieker says. “Our house was filled with books and newspapers. If there’s a cereal box in front of me, I’ll read it. And I read everything from fiction to nonfiction. Obviously, I liked mysteries quite a bit.” Louise Penny is a contemporary inspiration, Bieker says, and she delved into Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie plenty when she was a kid, as well as true-crime tales about Al Capone and John Dillinger. When she decided to try writing her own novel a few years ago, there was little doubt what genre she’d tackle. With lessons learned from sessions at the Get Lit! festival and classes through the local library and community college systems, Bieker decided to get to work on her Manito murder story. In the process of putting it together, she decided to use events like the city’s Lilac Festival and regular garden tours to help structure her story. She found that technique agreeable enough that she tried it again in Blood on Bloomsday, using the preparation and running of the race as a setup for a story that eventually involves missing local young men, drug traffickers, wildlife poachers and a chase that pulls Rex Begonia out of Spokane into the wilds of North Central Washington. It’s a breezy read across 158 pages that offer more than a few chuckles along the way. Like her main character, Bieker is a longtime Bloomie, running it every year until, as she puts it, “my T-shirt drawer got full and I took a break.” You can tell from her descriptions of the race that she’s a veteran, and she tapped Spokane artist Megan Perkins to illustrate the cover with the iconic Bloomsday vulture overlooking the racers coming up Doomsday Hill alongside the river. “She does a lot of iconic scenes in Spokane, and she also paints a lot of nature, plants. It just seemed like a really good fit for the story,” Beiker says. “A big part of both these stories is community. And Spokane does such a great job of putting on these large events. I’m hoping that I’ve portrayed Spokane in a positive light. Even if there is a murder.” n Blood on Bloomsday Release Party • Sat, April 30 at 7 pm • Free • Auntie’s Bookstore • 402 W. Main • auntiesbooks.com • 509-838-0206

NIGHTHAWK LOUNGE 8:30 PM – 12:30 AM Rock Candy brings the party! Come on down to the Nighthawk Lounge and enjoy this fun and enthusiastic cover band!

Kyle Swaffard FRIDAY, APRIL 29 TH & SATURDAY, APRIL 30 TH CHINOOK LOUNGE 6 PM – 9:30 PM Kyle Swaffard is a singersongwriter from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho who has been entertaining audiences in the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years!

W E LC O M E H O M E .

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 15

CULTURE | DIGEST

BREAKING BAD Modulating temptations of the tube and making time for the screen BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

T S P O K A N E S Y M P H O N Y 7 7 TH S E A S O N

2022-2023 SUBSCRIPTIONS

ON SALE NOW! 9 MASTERWORKS 5 POPS TA K E 5 PAC K AG E AND THE NEW 1 -2 - 3 G O ! PACKAGE JAMES LOWE, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Box Office 509-624-1200 SpokaneSymphony.org

16 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

wo truths and a lie. I declined joining the National Honor Society in high school. I sold my flat-screen TV to pay for college. I parachuted with the Flying Elvis troupe. The lie? I never sold a television because I’ve never owned one. Ever. Why? Television addiction, or something like it. Youthful FOMO, boredom, plus the proliferation of programming resulted in hard-to-break habits that haven’t gotten easier since television turned into “screen time.” To clarify, I’ve watched plenty of television, but I’ve avoided owning a TV because steps one and two in recovery-speak mean recognizing you have a problem and detoxing from it. I blame my parents, of course. They were one of nearly 93 percent of American households with a television in 1965 when I was born. They had two TVs by the ’70s, although we weren’t permitted to watch unsupervised. When my brother and I bemoaned the unfairness of 60 Minutes and The Wonderful World of Disney occupying the same Sunday timeslot, our parents offered the old black-and-white. It may as well have been crack. This and other experiences — mom crying over televised coverage of the Wounded Knee occupation, how watching shows together galvanized my otherwise fragmented family — made me realize that little box had power. And I wanted more. Left unchecked through my teens, I mainlined TV, sitting slack jawed two feet from the screen. Unlike most addictions, however, TV has upsides. Television shaped my sense of self, similar to YouTube and TikTok today. I wanted to be one of Charlie’s Angels — smart, fierce — with Farrah Fawcett-like hair. I tried to find humor in everything, like Carol Burnett did. The Partridge Family, Good Times, and One Day at a Time portrayed strong, single women and dynamic families that resonated with me. When grown-ups wouldn’t talk about taboo subjects, TV would. It also expanded my worldview on race, sexuality, gender identity, social inequities and more. It wasn’t TV that disquieted me; it was the copious content, especially with the rise of cable. In the ’90s, Americans averaged four hours of television daily, according to Nielsen ratings, yet it

seemed like “57 Channels (and Nothin’ On),” to quote Bruce Springsteen. It was overwhelming. So I never bought a television, which felt good, and limited watching it when traveling, which felt better. By the time the Internet made not owning a TV irrelevant, I’d found balance. I could absorb enough pop culture to feel connected to others, yet successfully modulate screen time, especially when it threatened my equilibrium. Not paying for subscription services was key. Then 2020 happened. “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” (to quote The Godfather’s Michael Corleone). I succumbed to subscription-based bingewatching: The Queen’s Gambit and Six Feet Under, but also countless hours of forgettable shows. Starting over at steps one and two, I quit Netflix, renewed my library card and got busy creating my world, versus escaping into the worlds of others via the screen.

There’s no way to avoid screen time; in fact, there’s plenty to be gained from it. Balance comes from discipline, not denial, and finding alternatives that still fit my lifestyle. I’ve discovered oodles of free content like Hoopla, a digital media streaming service that partners with public libraries like Spokane County Library District. It limits movies to six per month, for example, so I can’t overindulge. Public broadcasting and sites like Documentarymania offer substantive programming, too, so at least I can feel like I’m not consuming junk. Maybe that’s the best we can do when breaking bad habits; look for the silver lining and keep moving forward. n

THE BUZZ BIN

Get year-round help accessing Washington Apple Health or another low-cost health plan to meet your family’s needs. Our Healthy Kids Together program assists families, adults, and youth in Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Adams, Whitman, & Spokane counties.

DEEP BLUE SEQUEL Are the Sonic the Hedgehog movies great? No. They’re perfectly acceptable middling family entertainment with a few laughs. Still, compared to video game movies of the past, they’re at least worthy of big screen success. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 takes a half-step down in quality from the original, but still has its moments. The introduction of Sonic’s flying fox sidekick, Tails, is a welcome adorable addition, and Knuckles the red echidna (voiced by Edris Elba) is a fine foe, even if his potential as a Drax the Destroyer-esque comedic literalist isn’t unlocked until way too late in the film. Any time the script veers into pop culture territory, things get cringe (dance battles and Limp Bizkit jokes in 2022?), but you can do worse if you’re trying to distract the kiddos at the movies for a couple hours. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

HEALTHY KIDS HAVE

BRIGHTER

FUTURES

SPARKS FLYING It’s been a while, but Sparks Weekend is back, April 29-May 1, at the Catalyst Building (above). Top local entrepreneurs will gather to judge the best startup ideas — like Spokane’s very own Shark Tank. Chip Overstreet of Spiceology, a past winner, is among the judges. There’s still time to join a team, but you can just come watch, too. Friday night is the rapid-fire, 60-second pitches; Sunday night is when finalists compete for a $50,000 kick-start investment. Sign up at sparksweekend.com. (TED S. McGREGOR JR.) THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST Noteworthy new music arriving in stores and online April 29: THE HEAD & THE HEART, EVERY SHADE OF BLUE. The Seattle folk-rock sextet are set to deliver more heartbreak via sweet harmonies. MIRANDA LAMBERT, PALOMINO. One of country music’s most reliable stars gets back on the horse for another round of dusty tunes about love, cowboy life and heartache. TOMBERLIN, I DON’T KNOW WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THIS… If you’ve yet to check out one of the best singer/songwriters in modern folk music, then you are the one that needs to hear this. (SETH SOMMERFELD)

Call Anytime! (509) 340 - 9008

www.BetterHealthTogether/HealthyKids This printed material is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $250,000. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 17

To inhabit his role, Julius Thomas even learned to mimic Alexander Hamilton's signature. JOAN MARCUS PHOTO

18 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

JULIUS THOMAS AS

FINALLY GETTING YOUR SHOT

Hamilton’s arrival puts a spotlight on the success of Spokane’s Best of Broadway series BY E.J. IANNELLI

espite night after night of empty houses, WestCoast Entertainment CEO Justin Kobluk and his staff had never worked so hard as they did during the pandemic. Nearly two years’ worth of shows — a total of 109 performances — ended up having to be moved or canceled before the official resumption of live performances with Cats last October. And even now, with their doors fully reopened and a successful three-week run of Wicked recently wrapped up, the toil isn’t over. Sure, 70 performances have managed to be rescheduled, and Hamilton is about to kick off a blockbuster 2022–23 Best of Broadway season, but there’s still plenty to keep them much busier than usual.

HOW TO GO!

Hamilton runs Tue, May 3-Sun, May 22, for 24 performances total thanks to weekend matinees. Tickets range from $39-$249, and are available at broadwayspokane.com or ticketswest.com. Performances run two hours and 25 minutes, including intermission. There will also be 40 $10 tickets available via lottery for all 24 performances, with winners selected each week for the following week’s performances. Download the Hamilton app (hamiltonmusical.com/app) and enter a new lottery each Friday of the run. Winners will be able to buy two tickets for $10 each. Only one entry allowed per person. “We’re back, but it’s a tremendous amount of work. Hamilton is a perfect example of that. This was originally a 2020 show. Trying to re-create it, to re-cover it, to recommunicate it, to redo everything just takes an awful lot of effort and an awful lot of people,” Kobluk says. Lots of effort by lots of people is the story of Best of Broadway in a nutshell. The series launched in 1987 (with the very same show that marked its post-pandemic return — Cats) as a way of bringing top-tier entertainment to the Inland Northwest. Its initial funding came from a group of local hoteliers with the hope that it would provide a reliable and regular boost to business.

Three-and-a-half decades later, that educated wager has paid off. “Visit Spokane tracks all the drivers of tourism in the city,” Kobluk says. “And by far, year in and year out, Broadway events are the single largest driver of room stays in this whole region. That’s including Hoopfest, Bloomsday and all the others. Those are monster events, but they’re over in a weekend. Broadway brings in weeklong or multiple-week runs throughout the year.” The economic impact of Best of Broadway isn't limited to hotels and restaurants. Based on historic tallies up to the 2018–19 season, WestCoast Entertainment estimates that it’s generated somewhere in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars for the wider regional economy. Using industry metrics and ticket-sale multipliers, Kobluk is predicting that an individual show like Hamilton will bring an economic boost of $16 to $20 million because of all the ancillary spending associated with it. Just the Hamilton admissions tax alone will total around $300,000. That money is channeled back into the Public Facilities District, the organization that manages the Spokane Arena and the First Interstate Center for the Arts. It’s also used to fund local arts-related activities. But, as Kobluk notes, “It’s not just a dollars-and-cents thing. It’s a community thing. And that’s important. “As I’m dealing with agents out of New York, looking to negotiate shows and bring them to Spokane, I don’t have to spend a lot of time explaining who we are. Every agent in New York knows us. We punch above our weight because we have a wonderful facility that can attract the biggest productions out there and a 35-year history of selling these shows because we’re so supported by the community. We’re on the radar almost as a primary stop even though we’re a secondary market. That’s a great place to be in.” Along with Hamilton, upcoming shows like Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown are proof of that outsized influence. Originally anticipated to reach Spokane “a couple years after it was touring,” the award-winning musical is now coming to town this July — even as it’s still running on Broadway. “I’ve got five titles that we can put on in any given season, but I’ve got much more than five titles fighting for those spaces,” says Kobluk. “As an event promoter, it’s a good problem to have.” n

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

“To be honest, I’m not a huge history buff,” says Julius Thomas. When he was tapped to take center stage as Alexander Hamilton, he drew largely on the courses he’d taken in high school and college for character context. “I found that in this show, everything I really needed was on the page. They did such a good job of fleshing out these characters and giving us all the information that we needed to embody these characters. It was all there, so it didn’t require a ton of historical research.” Well, except for one thing. Thomas felt compelled to find out what Hamilton’s signature looked like. He then practiced writing it himself. “I sign a lot of things in the show,” he says, chuckling. “There are lots of little moments where I’m giving my John Hancock — marriage papers, things of that nature — and I just wanted to have that extra layer. It’s not something that anyone would ever know or see, but it helped me deepen my connection to the work we were doing.” While Hamilton could be seen as an homage to its title character, Thomas says that he’s discovered a lot of self-doubt bubbling beneath Alexander Hamilton’s impetuous, self-assured exterior. “I think a lot of his actions stem from a lack of confidence, sort of a need to prove to himself and other people that he is knowledgeable and capable and a top dog. And so a lot of his actions are driven by insecurity. Which is a fun thing to play.” And for all those who, like Thomas, don’t identify as history buffs? What does Hamilton hold for them? “This is a cultural phenomenon that, at this point, millions upon millions of people have seen,” he says. “It has literally changed the face of theater — how we do theater, who sees theater, how we consume theater. It really is a watershed moment, a changing of the guard to a new style. If nothing else than to witness a shift in our culture, I think it’s worth seeing.” FAVORITE SONG: “Satisfied” (Angelica and Company, Act I) THE HISTORY BOOKS SAY… It’s no wonder that Lin-Manuel Miranda was so inspired by the biography of Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757– 1804). The future Founding Father was born out of wedlock in the Caribbean and later orphaned, only arriving to make his way in the growing city of New York when he was a teenager. Even as a young student, though, he showed a keen insight into colonial politics and a gift for oratory. As an adult, in addition to showing skill as a military commander during the Revolutionary War, he was instrumental in establishing the United States Coast Guard, the Federalist Party and, while he was leading the Treasury Department in George Washington’s Cabinet, a minor institution known as the American financial system. He married Elizabeth Schuyler in his early twenties and died in his late forties, killed in a duel by Aaron Burr. — E.J. IANNELLI

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 19

DONALD WEBBER AS

AARON BURR

Donald Webber plays Aaron Burr, one of the most complicated villains in theatrical history.

PREPARE THYSELF!

JOAN MARCUS PHOTO

How to get ready for your Hamilton experience before going to the theater

BY WILSON CRISCIONE

here is a lot going on in Hamilton, from its multilayered historical backdrop to its showcasing of a wide variety of musical styles, including hip-hop and pop. It all comes at you fast. Some prefer to take in the onslaught all fresh and new, but many people have found even more satisfaction from studying up ahead of time to enjoy the show and all its facets. LISTEN TO THE HAMILTON SOUNDTRACK . You know how when you first hear a song, you’re still trying to get a feel for it? That’s sure to happen with Hamilton, since each song jams in so much history. Listen to the soundtrack with the original cast, so that by the time you actually see the show, you’re not trying to figure out the songs. Instead, you’re celebrating the music like you’re seeing a concert of your favorite artists. WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS. There’s the cast performing songs at the Tony awards. There are celebrities performing their own covers of Hamilton songs. There’s LinManuel Miranda and co-star Daveed Diggs having rap battles. But I especially recommend watching the original Hamilton cast performing songs at the White House for President Barack Obama, if for no other reason than the fact that there are few

20 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

things as entertaining as Obama bobbing his head to rap as everyone else in the room nervously looks at the former president and wonders if their own body movements are sufficient. Also, maybe I’m not supposed to tell you this, but sometimes you can find bits of the original broadway show on YouTube. WATCH THE FILMED VERSION ON DISNEY+. You probably won’t ever get another chance to see the original cast perform Hamilton live on Broadway. Thankfully, Disney+ released the filmed version on July 3, 2020 — one of the few cultural highlights of the early pandemic. READ ALEXANDER HAMILTON, BY RON CHERNOW. As legend has it, Lin-Manuel Miranda read this book on a vacation after his first successful musical, In the Heights. That’s when Miranda first envisioned the musical. The book presents Hamilton as a spirited, flawed genius who could spit out a vigorous defense of the U.S. Constitution in one breath and form the foundation of American capitalism in the next. But what likely attracted Miranda to the story was the notion that Hamilton was misunderstood in history books, that he was a tragic figure whose brilliance fueled his success but also his failures. Miranda had Chernow advise him on the creation of the musical, and the rest, as they say, is history. n

Before he played Alexander Hamilton’s archrival and eventual assassin, Donald Webber’s most vivid memory of Aaron Burr came from a “Got Milk?” commercial during the 1990s. In the popular TV spot — directed, incidentally, by Michael Bay of Transformers fame — a Hamilton aficionado gets a random call from a game show asking him to name the Founding Father’s killer. Unfortunately, the unwitting contestant has just bitten into a peanut butter sandwich and can’t get the answer out in time. “I thought it was hilarious and brilliant, and it made me want to learn more about the most famous duel in American history,” Webber writes in an e-mail. But there’s more complexity and depth to Burr than that fateful event. Webber says Burr’s ambitions and motivations are made clearer through Hamilton, and they’re not always so different from Hamilton himself. “Just as Hamilton does, his need to protect the one thing his parents left him — a ‘legacy to protect’ — makes him act in ways that he may not have otherwise. And perhaps it would have changed the course of our history had he not felt it was a life or death matter to try to protect it.” And for Webber, the chance to share that universal story of “love, jealousy, triumph and disappointment” with a live audience is a career highlight. “There is something unexplainable that happens when those lights dim and we tell our story,” he says. “I feel the room come alive each time, and each time I step on that stage after the iconic opening notes, I too feel alive.” FAVORITE SONG: “That Would Be Enough” (Eliza and Hamilton, Act I) THE HISTORY BOOKS SAY… Most (in)famous for being the man who shot Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr Jr. (1756–1836) had an interesting and accomplished life that’s been overshadowed by the outcome of that tragic duel. At the age of 13, he entered Princeton University, where he showed an aptitude for literature, politics, debate and theology. Those interests would serve him well in his later career as a lawyer and a politician — a career that would also result in ideological clashes with Hamilton. During the Revolutionary War, Burr served in commanding roles in the Continental Army, and he went on to become the vice president of the United States under Thomas Jefferson. But the duel, which took place while he was still VP, left him to live out the remainder of his years in disgrace. — E.J. IANNELLI

proud partnerships in theater history

Timon and Pumbaa. Rodgers and Hammerstein. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alexander Hamilton. The region’s favorite credit union and the biggest show in town. WestCoast Entertainment was founded on the belief that Spokane audiences deserved to see the world-class productions of Broadway’s best. When selecting a community partner, they turned to another hometown organization known for supporting the arts and education. We hope you enjoy Hamilton, and the entire STCU Best of Broadway season.

broadwayspokane.com

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 21

(509) 928-2222 222 S EVERGREEN RD SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99216 www.OrchardCrestRetirement.com

Setting the Standard in Retirement Living 22 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

FROM LEFT: The Schuyler sisters Eliza, Angelica and Peggy (Rebecca Covington).

JOAN MARCUS PHOTO

VICTORIA ANN SCOVENS AS

ELIZA SCHUYLER As proof of the idea that artistic license can be more revealing than unvarnished truth, Victoria Ann Scovens developed new insight into her character by reading the novel My Dear Hamilton. She found that Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie’s historical fiction drew a rich, biographically based portrait of Eliza Schuyler, the woman who would become Alexander Hamilton’s wife. “One of the first lines in the book is basically how Eliza was a fully formed human before she met Hamilton,” Scovens writes via e-mail. “It talks about how her grandfather was a doctor, and she would go with him out into the battlefields in New York, helping to nurse injured soldiers on both sides. And she was a little bit of a tomboy. All of this helped me create a grounded human.” The rest of the detail, she says, comes from Hamilton’s unusually intricate score. “At face value, in an extreme way, Eliza could be considered an ingénue if we’re talking about archetypes in a show. But what makes her more than that is how she handles the events in situations that she experiences. She is very much an active participant in her life and in Hamilton’s life,” she says. Even when they endure loss, like the death of their oldest son, Philip, or a fundamental breach of trust, such

as when Alexander admits his extramarital affair, Eliza doesn’t let it undermine her commitment or her dignity. “As sweet as Eliza is, she’s also a no-BS kind of woman. Being soft and strong are two kind of funny traits to have. They do seem like opposites. But softness does not equal weakness, and that is something very important to understand. It’s a cool role to step into every night.” FAVORITE SONG: “Satisfied” (Angelica and Company, Act I) THE HISTORY BOOKS SAY… Elizabeth “Eliza” Hamilton (née Schuyler; 1757–1854) was born into a large, wealthy and well-connected family in New York State, which provided her with a comfortable childhood and a devout religious upbringing. It also meant that she moved in the same circles that would ultimately introduce her to her future husband while he was serving as one of Gen. George Washington’s aides-de-camp during the Revolutionary War. She and Alexander endured their share of ups and downs, not least because of his affair with Maria Reynolds. After he died, Eliza founded and led the Orphan Asylum Society. She lived to the age of 97, engaged in philanthropic work and curating Alexander’s legacy. — E.J. IANNELLI

HAMILTON MASTERMIND

022, 25 2 E N

Although it was Hamilton that catapulted him to global fame and earned him several prestigious awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama not least among them, Lin-Manuel Miranda was already something of a Broadway luminary before he donned a colonial frock coat and jabot. His acclaimed 2008 musical, In the Heights, took home four Tony Awards and a Grammy. Like Hamilton, Miranda wrote the show’s music and lyrics in addition to starring in the lead role. Since Hamilton debuted in 2015, Miranda has been engaged in a constant stream of work in the entertainment industry — some of it highly visible, some behind the scenes, much of it for Disney-related projects. He directed the 2021 film adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical, Tick, Tick… Boom! He’s appeared as the high-flying aeronaut Lee Scoresby in the TV version of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. He wrote music for Pixar’s Moana as well as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And the hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” that everyone was singing after they saw Encanto? Yep, Miranda wrote that, too.

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA

MARJA HARMON AS

THE HISTORY BOOKS SAY… Angelica Church (née Schuyler; 1756–1814) was the older sister of Eliza and therefore benefited from a privileged childhood in the same wealthy landowning family. Angelica likewise moved in elite political and social circles, although she spent a decade and a half living abroad with her husband, John Barker Church, a British-born merchant who supplied the American and French armies and later became a member of the British Parliament. She developed friendships and corresponded regularly with some of the most prominent figures of the day, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. While it’s well known that she charmed and deeply connected with Alexander Hamilton, it’s less clear whether their relationship became romantic. — E.J. IANNELLI

Like many audience members, Marja Harmon “didn’t know much about any of the Schuyler sisters” before she saw Hamilton for the first time. Although they were devoted wives, companions and peers of these famous historical figures, their stories hadn’t crossed over into popular imagination. Hamilton gave actors like Harmon the opportunity to bring those stories into the spotlight — with a little help from poignant, showstopping songs like “Satisfied.” Angelica Schuyler, Harmon writes via e-mail, “was ahead of her time and didn’t let her gender stop her from being highly influential. She used her charm and status to gain access to the great minds of that time. Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin corresponded with her regularly and sought her counsel.” Nevertheless, Angelica wasn’t just an intelligent, influential socialite who dazzled the political movers and shakers of the day. She was human, and she struggled with the same doubts and longings that many of us do. A significant narrative thread in Hamilton is Angelica’s relationship with Alexander Hamilton and the conflict she may have experienced in her sister marrying the man who may well have been her soulmate. “I really enjoy playing with her choice of duty versus desire,” Harmon says. “Her loyalty and commitment to seeing her sister’s happiness stops her from seeking her own. She makes incredible sacrifices for her family, but throughout the show deals with the constant ‘what if?’ So much of her journey in the show is so bittersweet.” FAVORITE SONG: “Wait For It” (Burr and Company, Act I)

ANGELICA SCHUYLER

ANE, W

S A

BEHIND THE CURTAIN trailers to move Hamil1Ittontakesfrom13city53-foot to city. When you add up crew members, cast 2 and managers, there are nearly 60 people working to make the show happen every night.

There are over 350 lighting instruments and more than 1,000 light cues in Hamilton.

Hamilton’s sound team makes use of state-of-the-art technology. In fact, some of the speakers are the first of their kind. There are 14 speakers hidden around the set so that the cast can hear the band playing.

Every show features a live, 10-member orchestra: two keyboards, drums, percussion, bass, guitar and string quartet.

Not all of the musicians are in the orchestra pit. The drummer is in a room just behind the pit for better control over the sound. He stays in sync via a live video and audio feed of the show and the conductor.

Engineering, building, painting and automating the Hamilton set took more than 500 days.

Almost all the brick and wood on the set is fake. The brick is mostly made of Homasote and Vacuform, while the wood is mostly engineered sheet goods. But some of the backdrop is actually fabric that has been painted by hand to resemble real brick!

Hamilton’s show deck is only 9 inches tall, yet it houses all the motors, encoders, drivers and other mechanisms needed to make the turntable work.

There’s a catwalk that flies in at intermission. To spot it, be on the lookout for the subtle change that represents the continued building of America.

"Less is always more with George III," says Rick Negron.

JOAN MARCUS PHOTO

RICK NEGRON AS

KING GEORGE III

Every now and again in Hamilton, Rick Negron pops up as King George III to weigh in on the American political strife through a catchy series of songs like “You’ll Be Back” and “What Comes Next?” “The trap with this character is to play him as a clown or fool, a broad caricature of our assumptions,” Negron writes via e-mail. “The real trick is to play him as close to the vest as possible, letting his idiosyncrasies bubble up whenever he is triggered. Our director, Thomas Kail, always reminded me that the king only must gesture minutely to dispense with an enemy. Less is always more with George III.” To research his role beyond the few facts he remembered from high school, Negron began with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s starting point: Ron Chernow’s biography Alexander Hamilton. Then he read The Last King of America by Andrew Roberts and George III by Christopher Hibbert. He also watched BBC documentaries on the king and his era. It gave him a new appreciation for the monarch who was mocked and later extolled as “Farmer George.” “George was intelligent and very involved in politics. He was loyal to his wife and very frugal. He loved books,

24 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

music, science and agriculture,” Negron says, and playing him in Hamilton is a “dream role” because “it’s probably one of the greatest pieces of musical theater in the last 50 years.” FAVORITE SONG: “Dear Theodosia” (Burr and Hamilton, Act I) THE HISTORY BOOKS SAY… George William Frederick (1738–1820) ruled as King George III of Great Britain between 1760 and 1820. His six-decade reign was characterized by a series of major military conflicts, including the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) and the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) with France, as well as, of course, the American War of Independence (1775–1783). Although George gets a bad rap as an effete, tyrannical and out-oftouch leader — charges that are certainly warranted in some cases, especially when it comes to his early support of the transatlantic slave trade — he championed major scientific and agricultural advances in Britain and maintained an honest self-appraisal of his own strengths and failings. — E.J. IANNELLI

There are over 50 different types of paper props in the show, and there are over 20 hidden prop boxes around the set.

Fabrics for the costumes are made specifically for the show in France and England: The ensemble military wools are hand-woven and dyed in England.

Some of the costumes are made of a special color of fabric. The camel colors, for instance, are referred to as HAMIL-TAN.

14 15

All the shoes are custom made for each performer.

The men’s shirts are made by a company called Darcy Clothing, dedicated to the style of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.

King George’s white wigs are made of yak hair. His crown weighs 2.5 pounds and has a microphone hidden inside it.

Hamilton travels with a full-time physical therapist to make sure the cast is in tip-top shape for every show.

THE EXCITEMENT OF BROADWAY IS BACK! SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SEASON TICKETS

JULY 5-10, 2022

SEPTEMBER 20-25, 2022

“AN ELECTRIFYING MUSICAL!”

JANUARY 17-22, 2023

Join us for the very best of live Broadway entertainment!

MARCH 14-19, 2023

THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL

Information and Tickets for these shows and more at:

BroadwaySpokane.com

JUNE 27-JULY 2, 2023 APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 25

THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS With community support, Sandra Williams is enabling 200 young adults and leaders to experience Hamilton live BY E.J. IANNELLI

alachi Davis was at the end of a stressful foodservice shift when his mother called with unexpectedly great news: He’d be attending Hamilton as part of an evening organized by Sandra Williams of the Carl Maxey Center and the Black Lens newspaper. “When she told me, I was freaking out. I was at work, and I’d had a rough day. That just made my night so much better,” he says. While Hamilton has undoubtedly achieved a remarkable degree of name recognition even among non-theatergoers, for Davis the musical needed no explanation. The Rogers High School senior describes himself as “the ultimate musical theater nerd” and had watched Hamilton every way he could — whether it was on streaming services or as YouTube clips. It easily ranks among his all-time favorite shows, although he does have a soft spot for Heathers and Mean Girls, too.

“A lot of musical theater, it falls into the same old, same old. I feel like the music is alive in this show,” Davis says. “Lin-Manuel Miranda really did an amazing job with the creative process. And, honestly, I work a lot because I’m saving for college. So this is giving me the perfect opportunity to take time off and really breathe.” Davis is one of 200 local participants — mostly high school and college-aged students — to be taking part in this one-night group outing to Hamilton. “Typically, when there’s a production of some sort that comes to town with a majority Black cast or the story is Black, I try to work with whoever’s hosting the event to see if there’s a way to create community connections,” Williams says. She recently organized a similar event around the classically trained hip hop duo Black Violin at the Fox Theater. But Williams recognized Hamilton as something extra special, not least “because it makes history relevant for kids of color who don’t typically see themselves in history.” She herself has watched the filmed performance on Disney+ no fewer than three times. So she started asking around for donations with

Band of Brothers, Revolutionary War editition.

JOAN MARCUS PHOTO

the hope of funding 50 tickets. Local organizations like Canopy Credit Union, GESA Credit Union and the Providence Foundation quickly agreed to chip in. Avista offered to support a virtual Q&A session with some of the Hamilton cast. WestCoast Entertainment also contributed some funds from its ShowKidz program, which is largely sponsored by IATSE Local 93. That’s how 50 tickets became 200. “Everybody was really eager to help out, and I think they see the relevance of it, too, which is why we ended up with four times as many tickets as we thought we were going to get,” she says. “And we’re excited to have 200 people, predominantly from the Black community,

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at the same event on the same night. That’s just super cool.” Williams is especially looking forward to many of her fellow audience members experiencing Hamilton live for the first time. Along with the show’s more representative casting, it has themes that tie into her ongoing efforts to create more inclusive public decision-making processes. “I’ve been talking about ‘being in the room where it happens,’ which is from Hamilton, ever since I saw it. Part of what we’ve been trying to do with a lot of our social justice work is to get ourselves into the room where it happens. It felt like Hamilton was speaking our language. And so I’m excited for other people to experience a similar reaction.” As for Davis, being in the very room where Hamilton happens is a memory he’ll take with him when he matriculates at AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles this autumn. He’s majoring, of course, in theater and film. n

We are celebrating all things Bloomsday & Hamilton here at Tavolata! Join us before a show with our special pre-theater offerings, carbo load with us the night before the big race or cheers with us on Bloomsday to celebrate crossing the finish line (extended hours from 11am-9pm)!

Happy Hour 4-6pm daily • Private Dining • Expansive Patio & Bar 221 N. Wall St | 509.606.5600 | ETHANSTOWELLRESTAURANTS.COM

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 27

THE SAME. BUT DIFFERENT.

Following Hamilton are Hadestown and Come from Away, two hit Broadway musicals steeped in like-minded musical traditions BY E.J. IANNELLI

amilton’s nearly three-week run in Spokane might be an exceptionally big deal, but it isn’t the only Best of Broadway show that has audiences excited for this season. Both Hadestown (July 5-10) and Come from Away (August 9-14) are hotly anticipated hit musicals that have resonated with people outside of theatergoing circles. Their popularity isn’t the only quality they share with Hamilton. All three musicals also have unconventional origins in nascent ideas that ultimately took years to flesh out through unique approaches to music. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway phenomenon, for example, was inspired by his reading of Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography of the Founding Father; an early version of the rap “My Shot” became the kernel of the entire musical. Hadestown is an adaptation of the mythic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice and evolved largely out of a concept album by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell. “I do feel like the original DNA of the show is in those early songs, the ones from the concept album,” Hadestown music director, vocal arranger, pianist and accordion player Liam Robinson writes via e-mail. “Before my time with the piece, before its life with a New York creative team, it grew up and put down deep roots in a music community that helped it develop an undeniable richness, a truth at its core."

And Come from Away, which recounts the stranding of airline passengers in a tiny Canadian town during the 9/11 attacks, had equally modest beginnings. It was the brainchild of Michael Rubinoff, who created a 45-minute workshop version of the show using a script based on interviews with the former passengers and their hosts. Cameron Moncur, the music director of Come from Away as well as its pianist and accordion player, says that the production likewise draws from the “inherently musical” culture of Newfoundland, where it’s set. “Anytime you have a party, it just always ends up in the kitchen. People bring whatever instruments they have — a guitar, a mandolin, a bodhrán — and they sing traditional tunes or old Irish tunes,” he says. This spontaneous jam-session hospitality is on display in Come from Away; Moncur's band even joins the actors onstage for two uplifting group numbers. “The music is so present and is such a through-line for the whole thing, and yet it also has to be invisible because we’re trying to tell so many unique individual stories all at once,” Moncur says. Having just seen the touring production of Hadestown in Chicago, Moncur is eager to offer praise for that show and to draw further parallels between it and Come from Away.

Hadestown hits Spokane in July.

T CHARLES ERICKSON PHOTO

“Our show is deeply rooted in traditional Newfoundland music, which itself is heavily influenced by Celtic music. Hadestown is the same in that they’re deeply rooted in the New Orleans jazz scene. We’re two shows with very different musical styles while still rooting ourselves in a very specific sound,” he says. “It’s about building a sense of community based around music.” n Visit broadwayspokane.com for ticket information on Hadestown, Come from Away and the rest of the season.

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 29

OPENING

Nods to

New 63’s management team (from left): Casey Garland, Brian Horpel and Hillary Yarno. YOUNG KWAK PHOTOS

New and Old A historic location and eclectic menu combine for an innovative experience at The New 63 Social House & Eatery BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

ersatility and quirkiness is built into the DNA of The New 63 Social House & Eatery, a recent addition to Spokane’s downtown culinary corridor. Housed in a historic building with numerous past lives — including as an Italian restaurant and a movie theater — New 63 also features an eclectic menu synthesizing American comfort foods and Asian-inspired flavor combinations. “We’re not going for something that’s ultra-traditional,” says Casey Garland, operating partner for New 63 and director of operations for SA Group restaurants, which opened New 63 in March. The wings ($15), for example, take a pan-culinary approach with a diverse choice of sauces: Bachan’s barbecue sauce is from Japan; the maple and turmeric sauce leans toward Indian cuisine; and the distinctly red, peppery Buffalo sauce takes its name from a Buffalo, New York, bar.

30 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

Pizza at New 63 features rice flour, more typically found in Asian cooking, in addition to wheat flour (a gluten-free cauliflower crust is also available for no upcharge). The toppings run the gamut from traditional pepperoni ($14) or roasted vegetables ($16) to assorted Asian ingredients. Try the Thai curry ($16) with yellow curry cream sauce, potato cubes, chicken, carrots and red peppers; the spicy edamame ($16) with creamy wasabi, onions and tomatoes; or the barbecued pork ($17) with Korean chili glaze and slaw. New 63 kept pizza on its menu as a nod to the building’s history, says Garland, who drove much of the menu development along with operating partner Hillary Yarno and SA Group founder Rakesh Kaushal. The Main Avenue building formerly housed Rocky Rococo Pizza and Pasta. That popular eatery operated from 1985 to 2020, and was known for its “pan-style” rectangular-shaped pizza and all-you-can-eat salad bar.

The Emperor noodle bowl

lthough Rocky’s old salad bar structure was beyond salvage and had to be removed, says Garland, other remnants of its tenure in the space have been preserved, including brick walls and mirrored window frames along an elevated back seating area. The restaurant’s new owners transformed a former order-up station into an informal bar area, adding the requisite roped-off boundary for the over-21 crowd, plus new tile and wood paneling. An antique booth with leaded glass windows still stands guard near the restrooms. Formerly a kids’ eating area, it now has adult-height seating and reupholstered cushions. Nearby, a lighted barber pole also remains, but with material bearing the new restaurant’s art deco-style logo instead of the traditional swirling stripes. “We didn’t just want to totally erase the history of the building itself,” Garland says. Rocky Rococo’s quirky, open-walled “house” struc-

FOOD | OPENING

ture still stands in the center of New 63’s main dining area, but has been denuded of its fake hanging plants and repainted a butterscotch gold color. Also gone is a synthetic Christmas tree that stood year-round, 200 to 300 pounds of bark and nearly any trace of red, green and white paint, colors of the Italian flag. The only surviving red is on embossed tin ceiling tiles in the dining and lounge area, which once connected to another bygone restaurant, Cyrus O’Leary’s. The lounge, meanwhile, features architectural elements from the building’s initial purpose as a theater. Between then and its tenure as Rocky’s, it housed a succession of businesses including a women’s clothing store. Before that it was a modern movie house, initially called Cinema 66 and later Cinema 63, which inspired part of New 63’s name. Originally, the building was the Ritz Theatre, built in 1924. Historical remnants of those movie theater days are also visible, like inset lighting along the floor of various elevations, marquee lighting in the dining area, and ultra-high ceilings. Vintage 1940s projectors and boxes of invoices and pay stubs are piled in an upstairs storage area the team has yet to renovate. “This was not a place that was well maintained, in any way at all, which is sad,” Garland says. “And that’s why we wanted to keep the stuff that we could, because you just don’t see a lot of older buildings that have some of the character that this place has.”

aking over or creating businesses in existing buildings (versus new construction) is just one element of the SA Group’s process, says Garland. The company also manages two Spokane Valley spots, Boston’s Pizza and The Ref sports bar, plus The Pizza Co. on the North Side and locations of Mango Tree in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. For New 63, however, the group wanted to do something a little different, especially with the menu. “We all love sushi but don’t want to go into the deep end of that pool,” Garland says, adding that sushi and ramen, for example, are already well-represented downtown. They also wanted more flexibility, and thus employed a modular menu approach. “The rice is the base, so if something’s not working, it’s easy to swap out the parts and pieces,” he says. New 63 offers eight rice bowls ($15-$19). The gochujang chicken bowl ($17) features the ubiquitous Korean spice and is Garland’s favorite, while the coconut bowl ($19) offers a choice of breaded, pan-fried shrimp or salmon. All of the bowls, including the vegetarian Japanese curry bowl ($15), allow diners to add proteins ($2-$4). Noodle bowls and vegetarian power bowls take a similar approach, with variations on ingredients offered elsewhere on the menu. Try the Emperor noodle bowl ($17) with marinated beef, red peppers and shisito peppers, or the teriyaki cauliflower power bowl ($16) with roasted vegetables, quinoa and avocado. The menu, including its craft cocktail list, is still evolving, Garland says. Changes will be driven by what the group decides should happen in order to continuously improve, and because of customer feedback. “With this place I want the menu to be as fluid as possible and if, you know, enough people are reacting a certain way to something, there’s got to be some truth to it,” Garland says. “We need to be able to pivot and not be married to doing things exactly how we’re doing it [now].” n The New 63 Social House & Eatery • 520 W. Main Ave. • Open Sun-Thu 11 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat 11 ammidnight • facebook.com/thenew63socialhouse • 509-598-8922

Deeply Ingrained Lone Mountain Farms harvests its own fields to create both food and craft beer at its new taphouse BY CARRIE SCOZZARO

arge-scale beer brewing was an afterthought for show how beer is grown,” Emily says. Luke and Emily Black, who recently opened Luke’s grain fields now include winter and spring Lone Mountain Farms & Brewery Taphouse wheat for wheat flour, as well as Copeland barley, in Hayden. It’s the second place — in addition to the Palouse Heritage Scots Bere barley and Lyon barley, tasting room on the couple’s 9-year-old Athol, Idaho, the latter of which was developed by Washington farm — where guests can sample Lone Mountain’s State University. craft beers like the Pils and Luke’s Doppelbock, both Luke also dedicates field space every year to featuring grains grown on the farm. “trial” grains, Emily says. He continues to grow Lone Mountain Farms & Brewery Taphouse is a range of millet, barley, buckwheat, emmer and also the first restaurant venture for the couple, and, einkorn to see how well each grows on the farm, as like brewing, was not part of their original business well as how they might contribute to flavor profiles in plan. The modest menu includes handhelds like a Lone Mountain Farms beer. classic cheeseburger ($12) featuring a custom blend of local Angus Meats, plus salads and comfort food like mozzarella sticks ($5). “When we started [Lone Mountain], it was just all about vegetable production,” says Emily, who plans to incorporate some of the farm’s produce into the taphouse menu as it becomes seasonally available. When you order Emily’s Southwest Salad ($12), for example, you’ll be eating Lone Mountain lettuce, topped with chipotle-lime grilled chicken, red bell peppers, corn, tomatoes and black beans. The Blacks started Lone Mountain Farms in 2013 and spent several years planting and plotting while working day jobs in tech-reLone Mountain’s beer features both hops and grain grown in Athol, Idaho. CARRIE SCOZZARO PHOTO lated fields. Emily planted potatoes, peppers, radishes, greens and other vegetables, evenGrains plus hops equals beer, or at least the tually adding chickens, and sold produce and eggs at potential for beer, which Luke started as a one-barrel farmers markets and through LINC Foods’ farmers operation three years ago. In order to have a tastcooperative. ing room on the farm, however, the couple had to For Luke, the farm offered an opportunity to convince various Idaho legislating bodies to recognize grow more hops for his homebrew hobby, as well as the similarity between Lone Mountain’s brewing explore the potential of doing so commercially. His operations and estate wineries. hops field now supports nine varietals — Cascade, In 2019, the Blacks got the go-ahead to open the Centennial, Columbus, Kent, Mount Hood, Perle, brewery and initial tasting room, yet the couple soon Sterling, Triumph, Willamette — which affords him discovered that the farm’s infrastructure and location the ability to customize each beer’s flavor, aroma and weren’t conducive to the level and type of business bitterness. they’d hoped to accommodate, including offering By 2016, however, the Blacks discovered that food. commercial hops-growing was more expensive than Although the farm’s on-site tasting room is open they’d planned. Nor could they grow enough kale from May through October, Lone Mountain Farms & or gather enough eggs from the chickens to sustain Brewery’s full range of small-batch beers are available themselves as a farm, Emily says. any time at the Hayden taphouse. “We find out things the hard way and then we Look for beer pairing suggestions on the taphouse figure it out,” Emily says with a laugh. menu, such as the mac and cheese ($6) and Lone So the couple pursued a different business model. Mountain Farms’ Estate Berliner Brown, or the fried The Blacks were already connected with LINC chicken sandwich ($13) — it has farm-fresh eggs in Foods, which in 2016 added grain malting to its list of the batter — and Forager, a Finnish Sahti-style beer farmer support projects. And as Luke reflected on his brewed with rosemary and mint from the farm and experiences from his grandparents’ Rathdrum grain filtered through fir tips for a Viking-inspired flavor. n farm, and the couple thought about their fondness for visiting wineries, they hit on a new idea: creating Lone Mountain Farms & Brewery Taphouse • 324 Idaho’s first-ever estate brewery. W. Lancaster Rd., Hayden • Open Wed-Sat 10 “We always loved the winery experience, and am-10 pm, Sun 10 am-7 pm • lonemountainfarms. Luke wanted to bring that experience to the farm to com • 208-684-6708

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 31

FESTIVAL

A WHIFF OF SIFF

The mindblowing volcano footage in Fire of Love can make you feel like you’re at the gates of hell.

Highlighting some of the films we streamed during Seattle International Film Festival 2022 BY SETH SOMMERFELD

ne of the rare upsides of COVID times is film festivals realizing they can screen a good chunk of their films online even when people are back in the theaters. This year’s Seattle International Film Festival wasn’t the robust monthlong affair it was in the before times, but there was still plenty to watch over the fest’s 10day span (which concluded last Sunday). Here are some of the better movies we saw without having to trek over the Snoqualmie Pass. In this digital age, you’re likely to find them available in some form in the next year or so.

FIRE OF LOVE

The saying “opposites attract” isn’t always true. Sometimes perfect matches attract. Such was the case with Katia and Maurice Krafft, the married pair of volcanologists who made a name for themselves with their study of the magma-spewers in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. The documentary Fire of Love doesn’t beat around the bush, letting you know right off the bat that their passion for nature’s atom bombs will be their doom. In a way, this relieves some of the dread-driven tension and allows viewers to sink into their life story. Narrated by Miranda July, this winner of SIFF’s Official Competition Grand Jury Prize sort of attempts to be both a nature documentary and a quirky Wes Anderson love story (the Kraffts often dress like they’re in The Life Aquatic), but falls a bit short on both accounts — being a little information-thin for a nature doc and not fully fleshing out either as a rich personality. However, that deficiency is counterbalanced by the unreal volcano footage (the Kraffts shot everything and left behind hundreds of hours of jaw-dropping footage).

KNOW YOUR PLACE

The reality of gentrification and economic divides in Seattle come to the forefront in this indie drama which won SIFF’s Best Film Audience Award and the New American Cinema Competition Grand Jury Prize. The story follows a 15-year-old Eritrean-American, Robel, who embarks on a cross-city journey to deliver a suitcase full of supplies to

32 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

a family member in need. While its pace drags at times, Know Your Place captures the feel of modern Seattle, and the lead performances from Joseph Smith (Robel) and Natty Moges (Robel’s best friend, Fahmi) are terrific, oozing with an authentic moody male teen facade of machismo.

NEPTUNE FROST

I can safely say you won’t see anything like Neptune Frost this year. Written and co-directed by slam poet/rapper Saul Williams, this Rwandan film is an anti-colonialist, anti-captitalist Afrofuturist musical about a nonbinary who follow their literal dreams to a technological collective that attempts to take down the powers that be by hacking the world at large. The music is driven by African beats whether conveyed by rebelling mine workers or around party-like fires, and the characters pop with vivid proto-futuristic blacklight colors and costumes. It’s not the easiest to follow at times (I think being more familiar with Rwandan society would help), but Neptune Frost is still so unique that it’s worth the atypical journey.

SWEETHEART DEAL

The best film I saw during digital SIFF was this harrowing documentary about prostitutes on Aurora Avenue in Seattle and Laughn “Elliott” Doescher (the “Mayor of Aurora”), who let drug-addicted women into a camper for shelter and other things when needed. It’s a completely unflinching look at the lives of four sex workers and their relationship to Doescher. It can be incredibly tough to watch the women shoot up, freak out coming off drugs and wail for their mom, talk about having to turn extra tricks to pay for their parents’ cigarettes, and be very frank about the cycle of addiction and their work. It fully immerses you in their world and shows Doescher’s care for the girls, before taking a hard turn and becoming tough to stomach in completely new ways. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the winner of SIFF’s Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision is absolutely loaded with humanizing compassion for people society often turns to look away from in disgust. n

OPENING FILMS DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB

A nuclear standoff between the USA and USSR becomes fodder for classic black comedy and a showcase for Peter Sellers’ comedic versatility in this Stanley Kubrick classic. Always remember, “You can’t fight in here, this is the war room!” (SS) At the Magic Lantern. Rated PG

HATCHING

In this Finnish-language horror film, things get twisted for a picturesque family after the mother kills a bird who ruins their idyllic living room. The distraught daughter takes care of one of the bird’s eggs, only for it to hatch a monstrous creature that begins transforming. (SS) Not rated

MEMORY

Liam Neeson being a grizzled, aging action star gets more woven into the plot of Memory than most of his template shoot-’em-ups. The film finds Neeson playing an assassin who is struggling with the memory loss of Alzheimer’s while trying to thwart a child-trafficking ring. (SS) Rated R

SCREEN | REVIEW

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Ringside Seats

Ben Foster’s Harry Haft literally fights for his life in The Survivor.

oners in brutal boxing matches for the guards’ entertainment. To stay alive, Harry fought his fellow Jews, knowing that they would be put to death once he defeated them in the ring. Like other Jews who traded talents or favors for temporary amnesty from the Nazis, Harry carries guilt over what he did, even though he was cruelly placed in an impossible position. It doesn’t take much to make Holocaust scenes harrowing, and Levinson shows just enough of the expected atrocities to establish the context, while keeping the focus on the dynamic between Harry and his German tormentor. Levinson effectively cross-cuts between boxing matches in the two time periods, emphasizing the continuum between the harsh violence of the camps and the more controlled violence that BY JOSH BELL Harry faces in sanctioned matches in the U.S. here have been so many movies about the Mostly, the story plays out in standard boxinghorrors of the Holocaust and so many movie sequences, leading up to a key match bemovies about the hardscrabble lives of tween Harry and future world champion Rocky boxers that it’s tough for director Barry LevinMarciano. son to find a new approach to either of those The second half of the movie is less compelsubjects in his handsome but staid biopic The ling, as Levinson and screenwriter Justine Juel Survivor. That’s not to say the true story Gillmer (working from a book of Auschwitz survivor and small-time Harry’s real-life son) start THE SURVIVOR by boxer Hertzko “Harry” Haft isn’t worth skipping through the years. Rated R telling, or that Levinson and star Ben Foster has sweet, underDirected by Barry Levinson Foster don’t depict a number of genustated chemistry with Vicky Starring Ben Foster, Vicky Krieps, inely moving moments from Harry’s Krieps as aid worker Miriam Billy Magnussen life. But there’s little inventiveness to Wofsoniker, who helps Harry Now streaming on HBO Max The Survivor, and the unique aspects of in his efforts to track down Harry’s story still mostly conform to the Leah and then falls for him conventions of historical drama. herself. There’s a beautiful, touching scene of The Survivor’s first half mostly focuses on the both characters acknowledging that their future height of Harry’s boxing career in 1949, when romantic relationship will always be shared by he’s been living in Brooklyn for several years the significant others they lost during the war. after fleeing his native Poland during the war. But the story lacks focus as it shifts away He’s racked up enough wins to garner some refrom Harry’s boxing career and toward his growgional attention, but he wants to raise his profile, ing family, jumping across more than a decade in in large part because he hopes that his former a short amount of time. Foster never overplays girlfriend Leah (Dar Zuzovsky) has also survived Harry’s anguish or anger, keeping him realisticalthe war and may track him down if she sees ly tense and raw, no matter how much time has his name in the newspaper. So he allows a local passed since his traumatic experiences. Movies reporter (Peter Sarsgaard) to tell his tragic story, about Holocaust survivors often emphasize fragileven if it means alienating other members of the ity, but Harry is tough and powerful, although Polish Jewish community in New York City. that doesn’t always serve him well. It makes for a Levinson uses black-and-white images for the fascinating contrast as he channels those feelings flashbacks to Harry’s time in the concentration into boxing matches, and while The Survivor loses camps, when a sadistic Nazi commander (Billy some of its impact when it transitions into a meMagnussen) singled him out for his strength and andering domestic drama, Harry himself remains fighting ability, and pitted him against fellow prisa captivating presence. n

A boxer and Holocaust survivor gets the familiar biopic treatment in The Survivor

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 33

ELECTRONIC

POWWOW

POWER

The Halluci Nation blend electronic and Indigenous music to create a culturally relevant sound

BY SETH SOMMERFELD

unique sound can be hard to come by these days. Plenty of acts stand out by being better variations on a certain style, but few craft sonic aesthetics that feel fully their own. The Halluci Nation is one such group. The Canadian duo of First Nation DJs Ehren “Bear Witness” Thomas and Tim “2oolman” Hill have carved out their own path by blending EDM with tribal musical traditions. “Mixing powwow music with electronic dance music

is mixing dance music with dance music,” Bear Witness says. “They’re musics that were created, really, for the same purpose. So when we came around to doing our first remixes, it was really one of those of course this works moments. We took an open part from a powwow song with no drumming and a dubstep track, and layered them on top of each other because they were at the same [beats per minute] already.” ...continued on page 36

Tim “2oolman” Hill (left) and Ehren “Bear Witness” Thomas are Halluci Nation. REMI THERIAULT PHOTO

34 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 35

MUSIC | ELECTRONIC “POWWOW POWER,” CONTINUED... The Halluci Nation (originally named A Tribe Called Red) formed in 2007 as a byproduct of Electric Pow Wow, a First Nations night at Ottawa’s Babylon nightclub. Mixing powwow music with dubstep, dancehall and other forms of EDM connected with audiences near and far, with the group’s 2012 debut LP A Tribe Called Red landing on The Washington Post’s year-end top 10 albums list. In its current state, the group draws heavily on Bear Witness’ dub background and 2oolman’s hip-hop roots, though they’re always trying to expand their musical horizons. That evolution can be heard on the duo’s latest album, 2021’s One More Saturday Night. The Halluci Nation has earned raves for putting on a great live show. The group brings at least one dancer on tour (Creeasian will be tagging along in Spokane) to hype up the crowd and add to the visual element since both guys are tethered to their electronics-filled tables. But more importantly, Halluci Nation shows have become amazing gatherings for the duo’s First Nation and Indigenous brethren — people who might seem absent at many other concerts. “In the early days, we were doing this for our community. But all of a sudden, everybody who was looking for that kind of space showed up,” says Bear Witness. “But what is so amazing to see is the Indigenous people who are at our shows come and take up space. Because I think in many Indigenous communities, making yourself small, making yourself unseen, is something that happens quite a bit. To see Indigenous people in a packed room, push their way to the front of the stage, take up that space… that’s one of the most rewarding moments.” 2oolman can confirm this to be true, as he joined up after having seen A Tribe Called Red play and being

“It’s not just representation in this kind of almost hollow way that we’re starting to see, it’s truly handing the reins over to Indigenous creators, who are then telling our stories in the way that we want them to be told,” Bear Witness says. “It goes back to one of the basic things that we build everything in our group about, which is just the fact that as Indigenous people, we have never had control of our own image. It’s always somebody else telling our stories through their own lens. And so it’s been a really new thing for Indigenous creators to even get a chance to start telling our own stories. For us, it was representing ourselves and showing ourselves as we want to be seen. That Halluci Nation blends powwow music with EDM. JON RIERA PHOTO means that we’re laughing in photographs. invigorated by the experience. That means that we’re not doing this kind of stoic thing “I wasn’t in the group at first, but watching creatives that people would automatically expect.” performing in that way gave me the confidence to really “Handing the reins over means that we’re getting real feel like there was a community that was a safe place for stories,” he continues. “It’s the stories that people in our people like me to exist,” 2oolman says. community want to hear… but [also] things that can be enjoyed by the rest of the world. Because there’s been this he Halluci Nation fits in with the (very slowly) talent in our communities forever. But there’s been a serigrowing pop cultural trend of letting Indigenous ous hard cap on who was willing to listen to those stories, people tell their own stories. It can be seen when or listen to those songs. We’re finally getting the chance something like the FX Indigenous teen dramedy Reservato show those things to the rest of the world in a way that tion Dogs catches on. On a related note, the Halluci Nation I think is allowing people to say, ‘Oh? That’s what Indigco-composes the music for the Peacock sitcom Rutherford enous culture is in 2022? Oh shit! I had no idea!’” n Falls, which centers on Indigenous issues (in fact, they’re in the studio crafting music for season two when we chat). The Halluci Nation, Creeasian • Tue, May 3 at 8 pm For the guys, this pop cultural movement importantly • $20-$22 • 21+ • Lucky You Lounge • 1801 W. Sunset seems to be about not just being seen, but being heard. Blvd. • luckyyoulounge.com • 509-474-0511

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Spokane - 4111 E. Francis Ave. Spokane, WA 99217 - 509.467.6615 GMG Giveaway, see consumer disclosure to find Official Rules. Other restrictions may apply, for general information visit us at parr.com. 36 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 37

MUSIC YES, WE REALIZE

At this point, we know what to expect when the Flaming Lips play live. And that is not a knock. The psychedelic pop-rock band always delivers a wondrous live show with elements that fans already adore. You’re going to get the small handful of songs that are stone-cold cult classics (“Do You Realize?,” “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Part 1,” “Race for the Prize,” “Fight Test”) and the rest of the tunes that may feel more like filler will be greatly boosted by emotive theatrics from singer Wayne Coyne, a veritable rainbow of colorful lights, Coyne rolling around in an inflatable hamster ball, etc. Just let the spectacle roll over you (perhaps literally) and bliss out. — SETH SOMMERFELD The Flaming Lips, Particle Kid • Sat, April 30 at 8 pm • $45-$47 • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com • 509-244-3279

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38 INLANDER APRIL 28, 2022

FESTIVAL YE OLDE REN FAIR

MUSIC CONCERT FOR A CAUSE

49th Annual Moscow Renaissance Fair • Sat, April 30 and Sun, May 1 • Free • East City Park • 900 E. Third St., Moscow • moscowrenfair.org

MultiCare Heart Strings • Fri, April 29 at 8 pm • $30-$60 • Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox • 1001 W. Sprague Ave. • multicareheartstrings.org

Art thou ready to party? The Moscow Renaissance Fair is back in full swing this year after a two-year hiatus with its usual offerings: incredible crafts made by local artisans, a costume contest and an appearance from Wild Thang, the fair’s friendly dragon mascot. Travel to Kid Village to visit the petting zoo, get your face painted or get lost in the dragon maze. After you’re sufficiently stuffed with turkey legs and grog, sit down and enjoy live music from local bands like Under The Wire, The Range Benders, Funky Unkle and more at the fair’s main stage. Put on your best corset, tune up your lute and get ready to dance around the maypole with faeries, knights and royalty alike. Huzzah! — MADISON PEARSON

Join the community for a heart-pulling, intimate event put on by MultiCare Inland Northwest Foundation to raise money for Deaconess Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, which cares for the tiniest and most vulnerable members of our community. The night features live acoustic music and storytelling in the style of a “Guitar-Pull,” where a small group of musicians sit around, take turns playing songs and share the stories behind their music. This year, Andy Griggs, Frank Ray, and Grammy nominees Joe Nichols and Cam headline the event, which is hosted by award-winning artist Bryan White and KHQ anchor Kalae Chock. Organizers hope to raise $300,000 at this year’s event. — SUMMER SANDSTROM

BENEFIT FOR THE KIDS

With the words “bourbon” and “bacon” right there in the name, organizers don’t have to do much else to lure locals to this annual gala supporting the nonprofit Teen & Kid Closet. Featuring local chefs’ creative and indulgent bacon-based dishes — chipotle and bacon wrapped meatballs, crispy pork belly tacos, cheesecake with Cajun bacon jam and much more — with sips of bourbon and beer to go with it, the afternoon also includes music by The Rising in the unique setting of Historic Flight Foundation’s Felts Field museum. The bourbon comes courtesy of four regional distilleries: Dry Fly, 2 Loons, Warrior Liquor and Heritage Distilling. Teen Closet’s mission is to provide dignity to local children in need by providing gently used and new clothing, and operates its referral-based clothing boutique in east downtown Spokane. — CHEY SCOTT Bourbon & Bacon Bash • Sat, April 30 from noon-4 pm • $45-$95 • 21+ • Historic Flight Foundation • 5829 E. Rutter Ave. • teenkidcloset.org

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SPORTS PLAYOFF HOCKEY!

You don’t have to be a total puckhead to understand that the level of play in playoff hockey is a notch above the regular season. And given that the Spokane Chiefs are in the Western Hockey League playoffs for the 30th time overall, and the 12th time in the last 13 years, you know the regular season was pretty decent. The format is a little tricky for the Chiefs, who will have to play the first three games of their first-round series against the Kamloops Blazers on the road. But come Friday night the Chiefs are on their home ice at Spokane Arena, and could host games April 30 and May 2 as well, depending on how the best-of-seven series is going. The teams have history, including a major trade of players in the middle of this season, but they haven’t faced off in the playoffs since 2001. — DAN NAILEN Spokane Chiefs vs. Kamloops Blazers • Fri, April 29 at 7 pm • $12-$31 • Spokane Arena • 720 W. Mallon Ave. • spokanechiefs.com • 509-535-7825

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APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 39

CHEERS RIVER OF HOPE ....indeed!! You, the small home group meeting Wednesday at The Garden in Spokane Valley...have changed my life. The WORD that you teach, preach and reach has been a lifesaving...River Of Hope. I am blessed. I am grateful. I am Loved. LOVE to you all, who fellowship with any who come to that “water.” You are the example of “Love one another.” With no exception. Be blessed with all that gives you strength.

I SAW YOU NOT ALL RIGHT, DUDE! You. Parked at Comstock, Saturday the 16th. We were in the park. WITH your car running and windows up, heard you SCREAMING at your passenger. Wife? Girlfriend? Friend? We...heard...you!! She got out of your car...you followed,...throwing things into her vehicle, still ranting. You OK? Everybody’s a little and a lot stressed lately, but: NEVER is that acceptable. (Do you even think she “heard” what you were attempting to “say”?!) We live in that neighborhood. So do you. We’ll reach out to you. It seems you could use some support. We get it; we all “lose it” occasionally, BUT....”DOOOD”!...that’s not all right. Take a minute and regroup, buddy. It’s never as bad as it seems. We know that, if anybody does. We’ve been through some stuff, too. Take it easy...on yourself,...and everybody around you. Peace works. GROCER’S OUTLET I spotted you in the Rosauers in Browne’s Addition. You were the spitting image of David Hyde Pierce in Frasier. Our eyes locked as we both went for the same box of saltines. I’ll be waiting near the kosher pickles if you come by again.

DEACONESS HOSPITAL ICU My family and I have thought about you often since losing my dad in late February; we have talked about you (especially Christie) almost daily — you were even a part of my sister’s speech at his Celebration Of Life. No one enjoys being at the hospital and worse — going through losing a loved one — but there you all are witnessing the fear, pain, anger and sadness that we humans endure every single day; not only are you there, but your hearts are too, and it shows. You gave us warmth and strength during a very difficult time; you offered extreme kindness and even cried with us during the last week we had with my dad. You helped us say our goodbyes in the most heartfelt ways, and it didn’t go unnoticed; we talked about bringing doughnuts, lunch, coffee, gift cards and more, but there just aren’t any gifts (or even words) which measure up to what we feel you did for us. The career you chose is not for everyone, but it seems like it chose you — THANK YOU. EXCEEDING YOUR EXPECTATIONS So often now we are greeted with the phrase “How can we exceed your expectations?” It is rarely uttered sincerely, and usually by a bank clerk as part of a canned greeting. Recently my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. We wanted to try something new and special. We noticed that Park Lodge had reopened for lunch service. Simply WOW. It was a drizzly day, but sitting by

the window looking out over the river was just the right choice for our new experience. The entire staff made us feel special and welcomed. We were greeted with glasses of sparkling wine that was

“

being an honest Man and returning a billfold to its owner. We were at a park on North Standard, and my son dropped his billfold, and when you heard his name on the playground, you verified the ID

Corbin Senior Center tour vans caused a lot of heartache. Come on over to my house and pick on someone your own age.

Our eyes locked as we both went for the same box of saltines.

delicious. We sampled the menu, and each course was better than the last. The pacing was perfect, slow and relaxing. We felt like we were on vacation. When we were finished with our main course, the kitchen sent out another treat — warm beignets. Oh, were they exquisite. Thank you to the entire staff for making our special day extraordinary. On our way out they all wished us the best. We were the lucky ones. HEY DUMMY Thanks for being who are. Glad you were born. Appreciate and love your nerdy, archaic sense of humor. Light that Lucky Strike, and pour yourself a scotch. I think you deserve it. KITTY CANTINA DOING GOD’S WORK To the barista on Friday who made me a new drink because I didn’t like the Americano, you’re the GOAT. SF DF caramel machiatto is my new go-to drink :) MARYHILL WINERY Big cheers to Karsyn at Maryhill winery on 4-22. I was on a first date and don’t know jack sh*t about wine tasting. You helped explain the wine and ordering for me before my date got there so I knew what I was talking about. You were very nice and provided fast service. The date went great. Thanks for playing wing-woman for me! RETURNED WALLET Cheers to you for

and returned it. Thank you so very much! You are an awesome Dad setting the standard and doing the right thing. Bless you! TO MY ANGEL AT SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO On April 17th I was enjoying my $2 Blue Moons and celebrating being on “vacation” (all the way from Spokane Valley). We were having a lot of fun!! Until we left, and 10 minutes later I realized that I had lost my wallet. “Vacation” was surely ruined now. We went back and learned that someone good had turned it in with everything intact. I’m not sure if it was an employee or a guest that found it, but I was so appreciative and relieved that I didn’t have to spend the next few hours canceling credit cards and going through the hassle of switching all my autopay bills. Thank you so much!! I cannot believe that I did that. HELLO DOGGY! Cheers to the guy who said hello to my dog while I was picking up a copy of the new Inlander in front of the Milk Bottle on Garland. I’m sorry he didn’t say hi back. He was distracted by the delicious smells wafting from the diner.

JEERS TO ALL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PIRATES Your recent “work” on the

QUIT BEING ENTITLED!!! People who go into gas stations/convenience stores after 9 at night with $100s, just STOP. Unless you are putting 50 or more in your gas tank, don’t whine when the clerk declines the sale. There is NOT an unlimited supply of money. They are not banks. In fact what is the last thing they ask you at the bank “How would you like that?” Ask for $100 in 20s to make your lives easier. Also ROBBERY PREVENTION is what makes these businesses drop all big bills. Some don’t let the clerks keep 10s and above in the tills after dark. n

THIS WEEK'S ANSWERS L E G O B L A N S I S T P O O B I C A P U H Y E N O S S O

S W A R M

SOUND OFF

1. Visit Inlander.com/isawyou by 3 pm Monday. 2. Pick a category (I Saw You, You Saw Me, Cheers or Jeers). 3. Provide basic info: your name and email (so we know you’re real). 4. To connect via I Saw You, provide a non-identifying email to be included with your submission — like “petals327@yahoo.com,” not “j.smith@comcast.net.”

”

YOU TOOK THE MARMOT ROCK At the corner of Freya and 37th there is a rock on the sidewalk that looks like a small marmot sitting on all fours. At least, there was. Until it was rudely removed. I don’t know who took the marmot rock, but whoever it was, I want you to know that you have made my days immeasurably more bleak. I hope you are happy with yourself.

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BENEFIT

CHOCOLATE & CHAMPAGNE GALA Party for a purpose while enjoying chocolate from some of the area’s finest chocolatiers, plus champagne, games, a gourmet dinner and live/silent auctions during this annual benefit for Lutheran Community Services Northwest. April 29, 6:30 pm. $125-$250. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. ccgalaspokane.org SMALL CARS, BIG INSPIRATION: CLOSING RECEPTION Anthony Schmidt, 14, is autistic and has the gift of obsession that comes to fruition in the form of photographs. Celebrate Anthony’s exhibition at this closing reception. Proceeds from sales go directly to Anthony and Ben’s Fund. April 29, 5-8 pm. By donation. Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. kolva-sullivangallery.com (509-768-0309) BOURBON & BACON BASH Sample bourbons from local and regional distillers while enjoying bacon-themed foods from the area’s top chefs. Proceeds support Teen and Kid Closet. April 30, 12-4 pm. $35-$95. Historic Flight Foundation, 5829 E. Rutter Ave. teenkidcloset.org SPARKLE & SPEND A live auction fundraiser for Spokane Preservation Advocates. April 30, 5:30 pm. $80. Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. spokanepreservation.org (509-465-3591) SPRING PASIFIKA FOOD FEST Chef Jack Thompson, a local Samoan community member, cooks up island food plates, plus local Marshallese groups perform cultural dances and more. A portion of proceeds benefit PICA-WA. April 30, 11:30 am-7 pm. $7-$20. Watts 1903 Spirits & Eatery, 1318 W. First Ave. facebook. com/PacificIslanderCommunityAssociation (509-279-2334) EPICUREAN DELIGHT Benefiting the Blood Center Foundation of the Inland Northwest and Vitalant, Epicurean welcomes guests to enjoy gourmet food and drink, creatively prepared and presented from local restaurants and libations. May 7, 6 pm. $200+. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. epicureandelight.org/ (509-232-4567)

COMEDY

COREY HOLCOMB Corey’s comedy touches on class and racial divides. April 28, 7:30 pm. $30-$40. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998) AD IT UP Go behind the scenes at an ad agency and laugh at executives, creatives, staff and clients as they improvise tag lines and commercials based on audience suggestions. April 29 at 7:30 pm. $8. Blue Door Theatre, 815 W. Garland Ave. bluedoortheatre.com (747-7045) JOE GATTO Gatto, known from the hit show Impractical Jokers, brings his tour to Spokane. April 29-30, 7:30 & 10:30 pm. $40-$140. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com LAUGHTER IS MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL A night of stand-up featuring Yasmine Cortier, Charles Hall, Laura Branning, Rob Wentz and Chris Jessop. April 29, 8-10 pm. $15-$20. The Ref Sports Bar, 14208 E. Sprague Ave. therefsportsbar.com JUBAL FRESH Jubal tackles the topical world and nothing is off limits in his new comedy tour, Backflip. April 30, 8 pm. $27-$47. Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. bingcrosbytheater.com BERT KREISCHER The stand-up comedian, actor, writer and host performs to

crowds across the country. May 1 at 7 & 9:30 pm. $40-$100. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. firstinterstatecenter.org PHIL WANG The British Malaysian stand-up comedian is also a member of the sketch comedy group Daphne, and co-creator of their BBC Radio 4 series, Daphne Sounds Expensive. May 5, 7:30 pm. $20-$28. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com

COMMUNITY

SPRING CLEAN WEEK 2022 Support the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) Clean Team by taking on small projects near your home or work, and learning about smart and sustainable ways to reduce litter and waste. Through April 29. Downtown Spokane. downtownspokane.org YWCA SPOKANE’S STAND AGAINST RACISM Featuring performances by local artists and a panel discussion hosted by Nicole Jenkins-Rosenkrantz. Moderator Carmen Pacheco-Jones is joined by Stephanie Courtney (The Learning Project Network) and Terri Anderson (Tenants Union of Washington). April 28, 5:30-7 pm. Free. Woman’s Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth. ywcaspokane.org BOOK DAY CELEBRATION Celebrate Children’s Day, Book Day with a special story time and book-making craft. April 30, 11 am-noon. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary. org (208-769-2315) LOCAL YARN STORE DAY Celebrate with demonstrations and work stations including knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving and more. April 30, 10 am-6 pm. Free. Paradise Fibers, 225 W. Indiana Ave. paradisefibers.com BLOOMSDAY BIKE CORRAL The Spokane Bicycle Club offers a bike corral for Bloomsday participants who bike to the start of the race. Riders are welcome to leave warmup clothes, picnic baskets, etc. Bags are subject to security inspection before being accepted. May 1, 7:30 am-2 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard. spokanebicycleclub.org AFTER HOURS MINIATURE GOLF Play nature-themed, after-hours miniature golf in the library with your family or friends. Tee times are every 20 minutes for groups of up to six. Registration required. May 6, 6:30-8:30 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org (893-8350) BOOKS & MORE SALE Shop for games, puzzles, CDs, DVDs and more. May 6, 8 am-3 pm and May 7, 8 am-3 pm. Free. Opportunity Presbyterian Church, 202 N. Pines Rd. opportunitypresbyterian.org CHENEY MAYFEST 2022 Cheney’s biggest community event of the year featuring food, games, music, shopping and more. May 6-7, 10 am-3 pm. Free. cheneymayfest.org

FILM

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: THE EXHIBITION: From the makers of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and Trolls, comes an extraordinary exhibition celebrating over 25 years of DreamWorks Animation. TueSun from 10 am-5 pm (third Thursdays until 8 pm) through Sep. 11. $15-$20. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org KINO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL The 21st

festival highlights short films produced by student and independent filmmakers in the Pacific NW. Between 13-15 films of 10 minutes or less are selected by a jury, with prizes for the best films and actors. April 29, 6:30-9:30 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kinofilmfest.org TOTALLY TUBULAR TUESDAYS The Garland’s cult favorite film series is back. See complete schedule and pre-buy tickets online. Tuesdays at 7:10 pm through May 31. $2.50. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.com BAMBOO & BARBED WIRE The story of the lives of Japanese-Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor. May 6, 6 pm. $5. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org (208-882-4127) CLIMBING EROS Each showing is accompanied by a live performance of the original film score by Tana Bachman- Bland. May 6 at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm. $10. Magic Lantern Theatre, 25 W. Main Ave. magiclanternonmain.com (509-209-2383)

FOOD

ROCKET WINE CLASS Weekly wine classes; sign up in advance. Fridays at 7 pm. Call or register online. Price varies. Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave. rocketmarket.com (509-343-2253) WINE TASTING Taste Sextant wines of Paso Robles, California. Includes cheese and crackers. April 29, 3-6:30 pm. $10. Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington St. vinowine.com (509-838-1229) BREWERSFEST 2022 Featuring over 10 beverage and food vendors, music and beer. Souvenir glass and five drink tokens included with each ticket. April 30, 4-9 pm. $20. Latah County Fairgrounds, 1021 Harold St., Moscow. latahcountyfair.com WINE TASTING Sample a selection from Peirano Estate Vineyards wines. Includes cheese and crackers. April 30, 2-4:30 pm. $10. Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington St. vinowine.com (509-838-1229) CINCO DE MAYO AT ZONA BLANCA Enjoy a collaboration of six ceviche courses from chefs Byron Gomez and Chad White. May 5, 4 pm. $90. Zona Blanca, 157 S. Howard St. limefishsalt.com MOTHER’S DAY FEAST Learn a triedand-true method for great hollandaise including perfect poached eggs, salads and other brunch and early dinner favorites. May 5, 5-7 pm. $69. Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. campusce.net/spokane/course/course. aspx?c=1184 (509-279-6144) WALLA WALLA VINTERS WINE DINNER Walla Walla Vintners wines are paired with a five-course, Mediterranean-inspired menu crafted by Executive Chef, Tim Heinig. May 5, 6-8 pm. $83. Tito’s Italian Grill & Wine Shop, 210 E. Sherman Ave. titoscda.com (208-667-2782)

MUSIC

THE WORLD ON A STRING North Idaho College’s Cardinal Chamber Orchestra performs music of the baroque and classical eras and showcases modern film music. April 28, 7:30 pm. Free. Schuler Performing Arts Center, 1000 W. Garden Ave. nic.edu (208-769-7780) AMERICA SINGS OF FAITH & LIBERTY Chorale Coeur d’Alene presents a concert of patriotic and spiritual anthems. April 30, 2-3:30 pm. $15-$30. Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Whistalks Way. ChoraleCdA.com (208-446-2333)

JACKSON LUNDY The songwriter and guitarist is visiting Wishing Tree on his “Stella, My Dear” book tour. The novel explores the story and world of the album, centered on an astronaut lost in space, as well as the home and family he’s left behind. April 30, 2-3 pm. Free. Wishing Tree Books, 1410 E. 11th Ave. wishingtreebookstore.com (509-315-9875) PALOUSE CHORAL SOCIETY’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY Performances include a newly commissioned piece,”Vox Crepusculum,” choral favorites and the reprisal of Mozart’s “Coronation Mass.” May 1, 4-6 pm. Varied. St. Boniface Catholic Church, 207 S. St. Boniface St. fb.me/e/3bN1QxSlt GONZAGA UNIVERSITY: SPRING CHORAL MASTERWORKS Gonzaga’s Concert Choir presents J.S. Bach’s “Magnificat” and composer-in-residence Jocelyn Hagen’s multimedia masterwork “The Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci.” May 1, 3-4:30 pm. $16. Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, 211 E. Desmet Ave. gonzaga.edu (509-313-2787) PIANO RECITAL Music by Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin is performed. May 1, 3-4:15 pm. Free. Manito Presbyterian Church, 401 E. 30th Ave. manito.org WHITWORTH WIND SYMPHONY: ESCAPADES Featuring the Whitworth Wind Symphony with Christopher Parkin on alto saxophone, under the direction of Richard Strauch. May 1, 3 pm. $5-$7. Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. foxtheaterspokane.org

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

RELENTLESS WRESTLING 8 Live professional wrestling. April 30, 6:30 pm. $21.94-$32.44. Trailbreaker Cider, 2204 N. Madison St. trailbreakercider.com BLOOMSDAY Bloomsday returns to the streets of Spokane in 2022 for the traditional in-person race. See website for virtual race details and late registration. May 1. $28-$50. bloomsdayrun.org SPOKANE INDIANS VS. TRI-CITY DUST DEVILS Promo events during the sixgame series include Gift Card Giveaway Night (May 3), Purple Out the Park and Rockies Vacation Giveaway (May 4), Cinco de Mayo Night (May 5), Fireworks Night (May 6), Jockeys and Juleps Night (May 7) and Mother’s Day Game (May 8). May 3, 6:35 pm, May 4, 6:35 pm, May 5, 6:35 pm, May 6, 6:35 pm, May 7, 5:09 pm and May 8, 1:05 pm. $8-$22. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. milb.com/ spokane (535-2922)

THEATER

SOMETHING ROTTEN Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of a Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” April 28-30 at 7:30 pm, April 30-May 1 at 2 pm. $19-$25. Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Rd. aspirecda.com (208-667-1865) INTO THE WOODS A baker and his wife, Jack, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, a giant and a witch are on a quest to find their happily ever after. Wishes will be granted, but at what cost? April 29-May 1 and May 7-8. $10-$22. Hartung Theater, 875 Perimeter Dr. uidaho.edu/class/theatre (208-885-6465) A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD A whimsical show that follows two great friends, cheerful, popular Frog and rather grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seasons.

Through May 1, Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 pm. $12-$16. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia. spokanechildrenstheatre.org/ (509-328-4886) MASTERPIECE MONOLOGUES: NEW VOICES Produced by Michael Schmidt and directed by Jaron Fuglie, Erin Sellers and Joy Wood, New Voices is a series of monologues by local and non-local playwrights. Masks required inside of the theater. April 30, 7 pm and May 1, 2 pm. $15. Stage Left Theater, 108 W. Third Ave. stagelefttheater.org (509-838-9727) HAMILTON The story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre. May 3-22; Tue-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 1 pm, Sun at 7 pm. $39-$249. First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. broadwayspokane.com (509-279-7000)

VISUAL ARTS

PINE NEEDLE BASKET MAKING During the 4-hour class, students finish a 4-5 inch basket. All materials and handson guidance provided, including basic coiling techniques, different stitches, changing thread and how to incorporate beads and embellishments. April 30, 10 am-2 pm. $75. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com (208-930-1876) ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS WITH HANNAH CHARLTON Create small illuminated manuscript pages from famous fairy tales. April 30, 9-11:30 am. $65. Spokane Art School, 811 W. Garland Ave. spokaneartschool.net (509-325-1500) MIGUEL GONZALES & LADD BJORNEBY Gonzales’ photos reconnect his Mexican culture and American upbringing, honoring the indigenous heritage in each composition. Ladd Bjorneby’s paintings showcase the nature that surrounds us. May 1-29, Mon-Sun from 11 am-7 pm. Free. Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington St. potteryplaceplus.com FILM PHOTOGRAPHY & DARKROOM PRINTING In this immersion course, students of all skillsets are given tools and techniques to shoot film photography and develop film in a darkroom. May 4-25, Wed from 5:30-8:30 pm. $200. Emerge, 119 N. Second. emergecda.com ACCIDENTAL INTIMACY Saranac Art Projects showcases works by Jenny Hyde, Rachel Smith, Lenora J. Lopez Schindler and Richard J. Schindler. May 6-28, Fri-Sat 12-8 pm. Opening reception May 6 at 5 pm. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com

WORDS

ROBERT WRIGLEY & CMARIE FUHRMAN The University of Idaho Creative Writing Program closes out its Visiting Writers Series with a reading by and conversation with poet and professor Emeritus Robert Wrigley and the 2021-23 Idaho state Writer-in-Residence, CMarie Fuhrman. April 29, 7:30-9 pm. Free. Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, 1040 Rodeo Dr. uidaho.edu (208-882-1444) AUTHOR MEET & GREET: COURTNEY DAVIS Meet local author Courtney Davis, who writes urban fantasy, paranormal and supernatural fiction. April 30, 10 am-1 pm. Free. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. cdalibrary.org (208-769-2315) n

APRIL 28, 2022 INLANDER 41

NEWS

Three Degrees of Legalization The past week saw developments locally and around the country relating to cannabis BY WILL MAUPIN

STATE CLARIFIES CASHLESS RULES

Cash-free cannabis purches could be in our future.

7.4” wide by 2.6” high

BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.

Washington state, which blazed the trail to marijuana legalization, has seen a rash of robberies targeting cannabis dispensaries in recent months, with some turning deadly. Regulators and industry insiders believe criminals are targeting dispensaries due to the largely cash-only nature of their industry. Last week, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board issued a clarification about the rules surrounding retail transactions. Specifically, the state pointed to a section of the state code that allows for cashless, third-party transactions on the retail side of the industry. Retailers are permitted to use third-party services that meet specific requirements to conduct retail sales. The state gave an example of a service that conducts transactions through an app on customers’ phones as a potential way to legally handle a cashless transaction. ...continued on page 44

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NEW JERSEY OPENS RECREATIONAL MARKET

April 21 may as well have been 4/20 for residents of the Garden State. New Jersey joined the ever-growing list of states with active recreational cannabis markets, as sales were allowed in the state for the first time. Voters approved legalization at the ballot box in 2020, and the following year the New Jersey Legislature passed, and the governor signed, legalization into law. There were long lines at the 13 dispensaries up and running for the first day of legal sales. New Jersey is home to over a million more people than Washington, but has fewer than half as many operational dispensaries as the city of Spokane. The state also shares a border with New York City, where cannabis has been legalized but sales are not scheduled to begin until later this year.

NOT EXACTLY “FREE” WEED

The Alabama Democratic Party last week launched Free Weed Alabama, a website that lays out the party’s platform on cannabis reform and encourages Alabamians to get on board. Alabama has a history of being one of the least-cannabis-tolerant states. It is one of three states, along with Florida and Arkansas, where any cannabis conviction results in a mandatory six-month driver’s license suspension, regardless of whether or not a vehicle was involved in the offense. On the other hand, just last year the Alabama Legislature approved legalization of medical marijuana in the state. The Alabama Democratic Party hopes to go one big step further by legalizing cannabis outright. They’re also hoping to sell some shirts that say “free weed” in big letters across the chest. n

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